NRL wins built on skill not salary cap

The annual World Club Challenge was expanded this year into a six-team competition hosted here in which all three matches were won by Australian clubs.

Warrington Wolves did push St George Illawarra Dragons close in Friday’s opener, losing 18-12 after a raft of contentious decisions against them, and similarly Wigan Warriors fell 14-12 in golden point extra-time against Brisbane Broncos the next evening.

However, the stunning manner in which faultless NRL champions South Sydney Rabbitohs routed Super League champions St Helens 39-0 in Sunday’s finale at Langtree Park has left many onlookers saying the gap between the competitions is bigger than ever.

Indeed, Australian clubs have won six of the last seven World Club Challenge titles and the likes of ex-England captain Jamie Peacock believe that number will only increase while their salary cap is almost £4m, more than double Super League’s £1.8m.

But Solly told The Yorkshire Post: “If the salary cap needs to go up how come the other two games were so competitive?

“People can be too re-active in these situations.

“I understand the point, but I don’t think it’s the answer.

“If (Warrington’s) Joel Monaghan had taken that pass and Wigan had dropped a goal, Super League would have won the series 2-1.

“Would we even be talking about the salary cap then?”

The series is likely to take place in the UK again in 2016 with Solly saying up to six NRL clubs have already expressed interest in taking part while Brisbane would like to host a game in 2017.

A total of 51,902 fans attended the three matches while Solly believes supporters at Langtree Park – including Souths’ co-owner Russell Crowe who turned down the Oscars to be there – saw one of the greatest teams to have played the sport.

“In its entirety it was a huge success,” he said, of the inaugural World Club Series.

“We always felt there was a market for international club competition and a hunger from fans to go see the best players in the world.

“Three tremendous crowds and two games that could have gone either way show that.

“We wanted a commercial success, to raise the profile of the sport and ensure three NRL clubs have a great experience and want to come back, and we have achieved all of those aims.

“Unfortunately, on Sunday night, Saints ran into one of the best club sides of all time who won its own Grand Final (30-6 v Canterbury) with some ease, too.

“Everything went right for Souths and everything that could have gone wrong did do for Saints.

“We need to be pretty strategic about how we bridge the gap like getting Super League clubs more access to playing NRL opponents so they know where they stand.

“That is now happening while we also have to make Super League more competitive and raise its intensity, which we have by reducing its number by two clubs and reintroducing relegation, all of which will help.”

Victorious Souths captain Greg Inglis is keen for the concept to build further and said: “I loved it.

“The whole of England has jumped behind it and the world has too.

“The Aussie teams come over and really enjoy it. Every single game was (near) a sell-out so I think it should continue.”

Rabbitohs’ former Wigan coach Michael Maguire is convinced Super League’s elite can compete with the NRL clubs.

“I think consistency of where every team is at is the key,” he said. “Across the whole of the NRL the games are consistently at high levels.

“You see a fair few blow-out scores over here which probably changes the intensity of games and the requirements of turning up each week.

“But I think the top-end teams can definitely mix it in our competition.”

The NRL’s development manager Andrew Hill echoed Solly’s sentiments.

He said: “The World Club Series is one of the strategies for growth in place at the NRL and Super League.

“We are looking forward to building on what has been an outstanding tournament.”