Leeds Rhinos: Leeds confirm Headingley as venue for World Club Challenge clash with Cowboys

Super League champions Leeds Rhinos have confirmed Headingley as the venue for their World Club Challenge showdown with Australian NRL winners North Queensland Cowboys on Sunday, February 21 (7pm).
Rob Burrow.Rob Burrow.
Rob Burrow.

Rhinos had been considering switching the tie to Leeds United’s Elland Road - which staged their world title matches with Canterbury Bulldogs (2005), Melbourne Storm (2008 and 2010) and Manly Sea Eagles (2009) - because of its bigger capacity.

But instead they will return to the scene of their win over Manly in 2012 and narrow loss to Melbourne the following year.

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Half-back/hooker Rob Burrow, who has appeared in all six of Rhinos’ previous World Club Challenges, said: “It will be special to be back at Headingley Carnegie and taking on North Queensland.

“They had a tremendous season last year and made their own history by winning the NRL Grand Final for the first time, so it sets things up nicely with us having achieved something special in 2015 as well.

“In Jonathan Thurston they have one of the stars of our game and I am sure many young fans will be keen to see him in action as well as cheering the Rhinos on.”

Tickets are now on sale. Prices begin at £20 for adults, £13 concessions and £10 for juniors.

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The World Club series will also see St Helens face Sydney Roosters at Langtree Park on Friday, February 19, with Grand Final runners-up Wigan Warriors and Brisbane Broncos squaring off the following evening.

Super League general manager Blake Solly said: “We expect demand for tickets to be extremely strong following the success of the 2015 Series.

“Now we have ensured the top Super League teams will face the top NRL teams in 2016, it is a weekend that no sports fan will want to miss.”