Anyone doubting the status of the World Club Challenge should have seen the evidence in Wigan on Sunday evening. Giant flags, a serious burst of fireworks, and the NRL and Super League trophies greeted the players as they walked out at the DW Stadium. Amid all the ceremony, it felt as if there were more people on the pitch before kick-off than have been in the stands at some League One games this season. Wigan’s hotels were full and there were even half-and-half scarves for sale outside, for goodness’ sake.

Yet after an interminable wait to collect their medals from Martin Offiah – looking like Cluedo’s Reverend Green in an extraordinary outfit - the victorious Roosters players seemed faintly embarrassed to be on stage after a ‘trial game’, looking at the strategically-placed bottles as if to say, “Champers, after that - really?”. But their achievement sunk in and they were still in their dressing room celebrating 80 minutes after the final hooter.

Although too tired to be thrilled, the Roosters were right to be proud. Imagine Wigan going to Sydney for their first pre-season game in front of 20,000 Roosters fans, playing in temperatures 20 degrees different to what they train in… and beating the NRL champions, who are two games into their season. Wow!

Granted, the Roosters wage bill is nearly three times what Wigan can spend. But every other element was in Wigan’s favour. They should not have been intimidated by the Roosters. Indeed, five of the Wigan side have played in the NRL themselves. And yet, despite having no warm-up games, the Roosters’ attack was so much slicker than Wigan’s.

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Before kick-off, the phone-in on BBC Manchester was dominated by calls about the timing of the game. Should it be played straight after the Grand Finals or to open the season? Well, that would mean pushing the Super League back at least a month. Everyone did agreed it should not be filling a graveyard slot for Sky on a Sunday night.

“We have to have it, but I’m not sure about the timing,” admitted the Roosters’ progressive, internationalist head coach Trent Robinson. “There’s no perfect time.” Not every NRL club agrees. Some would rather not play the game at all.

Super League supremo Rob Elstone should be working to convince his NRL counterpart Todd Greenberg to persuade his clubs to sign up to an agreement that carves the match in stone. At the moment, either champion can opt out. Imagine Arsenal telling Uefa they were otherwise engaged so wouldn’t play in the Champions League next July?

“We’ve had this for 20 years and yet there’s still a discussion every October between two clubs,” said an exasperated Robinson on Sunday night. “Some bright minds need to sit down and organise the next 20 years. Come on, sort it out! Let’s lock it in. We’re really proud. We’ve won four and we’ll go after a fifth if we get the chance.”

The attendance of 21,331 was somewhat short of capacity but Wigan coach Adrian Lam “thought it was a wonderful event – anyone who saw that will have loved it and will come back for more.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest James Tedesco enjoys Sydney Roosters’ victory. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

Make no mistake: this was international rugby. Wigan fielded 11 full internationals (seven from England), while even without Australia centre Latrell Mitchell – who spent last week with the Indigenous All Stars in Melbourne – the Roosters included seven Kangaroos and four Kiwi caps. The two captains skippered England and Australia last year. As Wigan and England leader Sean O’Loughlin said afterwards, it was almost an Ashes Test: “For the young boys who don’t play internationals, this is the next step up to prepare them for internationals. They can take this experience and learn from it.”

His Australian counterpart Boyd Cordner was overwhelmed by a successful sojourn in Europe: “The week has been unbelievable, one I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I’m lucky to play for the Roosters – we get to experience stuff you never think you would by playing in the NRL”. And for that, the World Club Challenge must live on.

Clubcall: Sheffield Eagles

They are playing on a building site, have less central funding than many other Championship clubs and yet have a 100% record after three rounds. The Eagles are kept off the top only by big-spenders Toronto Wolfpack, with Friday’s defeat of Bradford Bulls in front of an Olympic Legacy Park record crowd of over 1,700 reverberating through the second tier.

Having kept most of their off-field staff in place, the much-changed Eagles are flying high this winter. Wise old owl Mark Aston added Championship veterans who wanted to remain part-time, such as returning favourite Pat Walker, to talented youngsters. Bearing in mind Sheffield are flying the league flag in one of England’s five biggest cities, they should be given every support the game can muster.

Foreign quota

Contrary to the brouhaha surrounding a footballer switching allegiances from Republic of Ireland to England, rugby league seems to have accepted that people have multi-national roots. Almost every squad at the last World Cup contained a player who had appeared for another nation and the NRL All Stars match on Friday was no different. Australia winger Dane Gagai scored two fabulous tries for the Māori All Stars (representing his mother’s roots) having previously played three times for the Indigenous All Stars (via his father)! And both sides had a player – a Kiwi international and an Origin star – who also wanted to play for Scotland. This is the modern world.

Goal-line drop-out

Due to the vagaries of the Challenge Cup draw, two Round 10 games were staged on World Club Challenge weekend. Bizarrely they were allowed to go ahead on Sunday afternoon rather than in Super League’s usual slots on Sky on Thursday or Friday. Jackson Hastings did well to make it to Wigan to do BBC TV punditry just a couple of hours after playing in Salford’s defeat to Leeds about 30 miles away.

Speaking of time, we have clearly got used to a speeded-up Super League already. With no shot-clock at the World Club Challenge, the crowd got increasingly irate as SIo Siua Taukeiaho took two or three minutes to set up each kick at goal. Time stood still as boos rang around the DW.

Fifth and last

The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted former Super League, Wales and NRL prop Keith Mason playing a disgruntled customer in the finale of Cold Feet on ITV on Monday night. The show’s creator and writer, Mike Bullen – a Cambridge graduate from Solihull – is a league fan, having spent years living in Sydney. Last year Bullen responded to an advert from local amateur club Bath RL appealing for player sponsors and is set to do so again this season. Bath RL, who are partners with York City Knights, would be delighted if any of you joined him.

And finally, this week marks the fifth anniversary of No Helmets. Four times as many of you read the articles now as did in 2014. Thank you all for your loyalty and feedback.

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