There was talk last year about the 2015 World Club Challenge to stay Down Under and expand to a 6 team competition. You'll probably think immediately to the failed 1997 twenty-two team tournament as soon as you've read the opening sentence. The words 'expand' and 'World Club Challenge' in the same sentence can send a shiver down your spine. It was announced by the NRL that the annual game will take place in England next year but I have an idea for 2016 and beyond.

For those who can't think back to 17 years ago, the 1997 World Club Challenge was contested in 2 hemispheres with each team playing 6 games each over 4 pools. There was a prize fund of £640,000 but the tournament never lived up to expectations. The NRL teams dominated the tournament and none of the northern hemisphere teams made it beyond the quarter finals. The viewing figures weren't great, especially over in the UK and I'd imagine that was down to the lack of competitive games. 

Although, it'll go down in history as a huge flop, I think it's time to resurrect the expansion of the World Club Challenge. If we can combine the success of the Magic Weekend in the Super League with a small expansion of the World Club Challenge, I think it could take off.

If we could extend the season by 1 week, a World Club Challenge could realistically work. Good Friday could host the Super League Grand Final winners against the runner-up of the NRL and then followed by the NRL winners against the Super League runner-up. Easter Monday could host a third place playoff followed by the final. An academy international match between England and Australia could also be played between the 2 games on the Monday.

The Etihad Stadium has been home to the Magic Weekend over the past couple of years and would be the ideal choice. With the football season still going on, it might be worth playing the semi finals at Elland Road with the final at The Etihad. 

If the tickets were reasonably priced (£25 for the weekend or £15 for 1 day) and with it being over the bank holiday, it should hopefully appeal to the fans. 

I think something has to be done to give the competition a new look. The matches before the start of the season can sometimes just come across as a pre-season game rather than a battle to be crowned the best in the world. It would be interesting to see what the readers think and if the fans would be willing to give it a go. I know the Exiles games against England never really took off and the Origin matches between Yorkshire and Lancashire were a long a way off from Queensland and New South Wales, but club Rugby League is where the fans are the most passionate.

Proposed fixtures:

Friday 25th March 2016

15:00 - Winner of Super League v Runner-Up of NRL (Game 1)
18:00 - Winner of NRL v Runner-Up of Super League (Game 2)

Monday 28th March 2016

13:00 - Loser of Game 1 v Loser of Game 2
16:00 - England Academy v Australia Academy
19:00 - Winner of Game 1 v Winner of Game 2