Leeds stars cautious over WCC expansion

Leeds Rhinos stars Jamie Peacock and Rob Burrow believe that ideas to expand the World Club Challenge are worthy, but need concrete backing to come to fruition.

A number of ideas as to how the contest could be upgraded and given more of an international feel have been touted in recent seasons. Ideas have included expanding the format to include more teams from the Super League and the NRL, as well as taking the game abroad, perhaps to the Middle East or South Africa, with the USA also suggested.

But Leeds skipper Peacock remains cautious about such ideas in a time of economic downturn.

“I think they’re all good ideas, but it’s whether you’d get the backing to do it,” Peacock told Code13.

“I think that’s the thing that holds everything back at the moment is getting the backing to do and finding someone, or a company, who is willing to sponsor it.

“If you can do that, then it is a good idea.

“I’m sure it could work, but where would you find time for it in the season.

“I’m all for that, but there’s no room for that in the season at the moment. Until there is then you can’t do anything like that.

“It’s going to take some vision and hard work from the people who run the game to do that.

“Whether people in Australia would commit to do that, I don’t know.”

Rhinos half-back Burrow is more concerned about this year’s game against the Manly Sea Eagles on Friday at Headingley to worry too much about the contest’s future.

Headingley looks to be heading for a sell-out for the game, perhaps a testament to the work undertaken by the Rhinos, who are organising this year’s event rather than the RFL.

“I’ve not really thought about it, to be fair,” said Rob Burrow.

“It’s something for others to think about.

“I’m just focused on it being at Headingley this year and in front of our own crowd.

“We’ve been at Elland Road in the city of Leeds before when we’ve played, which has been fantastic.

“Maybe it’s an option, but I’ve not really thought about it too much.”

Burrow was open to the prospect of taking the game to a venue such as Cape Town in the future though, admitting that travelling to such a venue would excite him as a player.

“Absolutely! If we could get a great crowd there then why not do it,” he added.

“It would be a bit less distance for the teams to travel, it might be something to look at.”