St Helens R.F.C. claimed their third World Club Title with a 12-13 victory over Penrith Panthers in Golden Point Extra Time!

Saints took the lead in the tenth minute. After both sides had good spells of pressure on the opposition line, Curtis Sironen collected a Jonny Lomax pass and broke through the Panthers line and found the supporting Jack Welsby on his inside who wasn’t going to be caught in open field to score under the sticks. Tommy Makinson converted, 0-6 Saints led.

Penrith came within inches of levelling the scores minutes later. Saints fumbled the ball in midfield and the hosts moved downfield off the back of it, Nathan Cleary then threw a dummy near the Saints line before sliding towards the line, but a remarkable tackle from Welsby forced a fumble from the Panthers half, 0-6 it remained.

The Red V lead was then further increased. Saints opted to run the ball down their short side and Lomax found Konrad Hurrell who powered his way over from close range. Makinson missed the conversion, 0-10.

Despite both sides having some good chances to add to the scoreline, defences stood firm. So Saints led 0-10 at the break in Australia. The only real sour note from the first 40 for the visitors, was that Makinson was forced off earlier on in the first half and failed his HIA so wouldn’t be returning for the rest of the game. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook passed his and was able to return to the game.

Saints had a chance immediately in the second half to add points to their tally. A Welsby kick was fumbled by Stephen Crichton which gave Saints possession in the Penrith 20, the hosts got caught offside from the scrum and Saints opted for two. Mark Percival took on the attempt and nailed it, 0-12 the Red V led.

Penrith then grabbed the first try of the second half 12 minutes in. There was a lot of space behind the Saints line down the Panthers left edge, Cleary kicked early and despite Welsby’s best efforts to stop the try, Izack Tago dived on the loose ball to score. Clearly converted, 6-12 they trailed.

The visitors thought they had their third try. Welsby threw a great cut out pass to Will Hopoate on the wing who cut in to score but the referee ruled forward pass much to the Saints’ dismay. It remained 6-12.

Saints went for a one-pointer with eught minutes to go, but Jonny Lomax’s effort went wide so it remained 6-12. Shortly after Lewis Dodd went for one, but the hosts were awarded a penalty for blockers obstructing the kicker.

Penrith then grabbed a try with 90 seconds to go. A high kick was not dealt with by the Saints and Penrith recovered the loose ball and moved it right for Brian To’o to score in the corner. Cleary converted, 12-12.

Both sides had early touches on the ball but were unable to come up with a score. Saints kicked the ball back to Penrith and a great hit by Hurrell knocked the ball out of Crichton’s arms. Saints then moved downfield and Dodd NAILED the one-pointer this time to make St Helens WORLD CHAMPIONS, GET IN!

Match Summary

Penrith Panthers Team: Stephen Crichton, Taylan May, Izack Tago, Sunia Turuva, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, James Fisher-Harris, Luke Garner, Zac Hosking, Isaah Yeo.

Interchanges: Jack Cogger, Matt Eisenhuth, Spencer Leniu, Jaeman Salmon.

18th Man: Lindsay Smith

Tries: Izack Tago (52), Brian To’o (78)

Conversions: Nathan Cleary (2 from 2)

Saints Team: Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Konrad Hurrell, Mark Percival, Will Hopoate, Jonny Lomax, Lewis Dodd, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Matty Lees, Sione Mata’utia, Curtis Sironen, Morgan Knowles.

Interchanges: Agnatius Paasi, Jake Wingfield,  Joey Lussick, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

18th Man: James Bell

Tries: Jack Welsby (10), Konrad Hurrell (16)

Conversions: Tommy Makinson (1 from 2)

Penalties: Mark Percival (1 from 1)

HT: 0-10

FT: 12-12

GPET: 12-13

Attendance: 13,783

Saints Line up

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
23 Konrad Hurrell
4 Mark Percival
3 Will Hopoate
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Lewis Dodd
8 Alex Walmsley
James Roby
10 Matty Lees
11 Sione Mata’utia
16 Curtis Sironen
13 Morgan Knowles
14 Joey Lussick
15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
17 Agnatius Paasi
18 Jake Wingfield

Penrith Panthers Line up

1 Stephen Crichton
2 Taylan May
3 Izack Tago
4 Sunia Turuva
5 Brian To'o
6 Jarome Luai
7 Nathan Cleary
8 Moses Leota
9 Mitch Kenny
10 James Fisher-Harris
11 Luke Garner
12 Zac Hosking
13 Isaah Yeo
14 Jack Cogger
15 Matt Eisenhuth
16 Spencer Leniu
17 Jaeman Salmon

Last updated 18 Feb 23 09:54:25

Drop Goal
Lewis Dodd for Saints

DODDYYYYYYY! St Helens win the #WorldClubChallenge!

🐾 12-13 😇

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Crichton loses the ball in a tackle, Luai picks it up from an offside position. Saints ball 30m out.Extra time then. Here. We. Go.

🐾 12-12 😇

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Extra time then. Here. We. Go.

COME ON SAINTS!

🐾 12-12 😇

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We go to Golden Point.

🐾 12-12 😇

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80'
Goal
Nathan Cleary for Penrith Panthers

Cleary adds the kick and we’re level with 36 seconds to go.

🐾 12-12 😇

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79'
Try
Brian To'o for Penrith Panthers

Agony for Saints, Crichton’s high kick ricochets off Welsby and into Panthers hands, they pass it out right with loads of space To’o to score.

🐾 10-12 😇

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78'

Dodd goes for the drop-goal but Penrith get a penalty due to Saints blocking.

🐾 6-12 😇

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77'

KNOWLES what a shot 💥

🐾 6-12 😇

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75'

Penrith go hunting on the left-edge once more, but pressure defence from the Saints forces them to pass it out on the sideline.

🐾 6-12 😇

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72'

Lomax goes for a drop-goal but is just wide.

🐾 6-12 😇

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70'

Roby comes off, on comes Lussick. Go well Joey!

🐾 6-12 😇

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69'

Lomax with a perfect kick to the corner.

🐾 6-12 😇

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68'

Saints cough the ball up inside their own 30m and have a pressure set to defend, but they do well.

🐾 6-12 😇

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65'

Welsby is dragged into touch as Saints look to go in on the right-edge.

🐾 6-12 😇

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64'

Lomax with a tidy kick into the in-goal area has to be cleared by Penrith for a GLDO.

🐾 6-12 😇

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62'

Knowles on, Walmsley off.

🐾 6-12 😇

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60'

Welsby throws a beauty of a pass to Hopoate on the wing but it is forward.

🐾 6-12 😇

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57'

Lees back on, LMS off.

🐾 6-12 😇

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Goal
Nathan Cleary for Penrith Panthers

Cleary adds the kick from the sideline.

🐾 6-12 😇

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52'
Try
Izack Tago for Penrith Panthers

A Cleary kick is chased well by a Penrith man, Welsby gets there first but doesn’t get enough power to clear it, Izack Tago though follows it and grounds it.

🐾 4-12 😇

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50'

Knowles off, Wingfield back on.

🐾 0-12 😇

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48'

Walmsley back on for shift number two, Paasi comes off.

🐾 0-12 😇

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44'
Goal
Mark Percival for Saints

Saints get a scrum but Penrith are offside and a penalty is given.

We call for the tee and Mark Percival goes for the extra two and nails it!

🐾 0-12 😇

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41'

Great start Saints, Welsby kicks down field and Crichton knocks on as it goes a little beyond him.

🐾 0-10 😇

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40'

Here we go, second half is underway in Penrith.

COME ON YOU SAINTS!

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Unfortunately Tommy Makinson failed his HIA and will not feature in the rest of the game.

♥ @TommyMak21

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A man for all seasons.

HUGE forty minutes to come!

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Tongan. Power. 🇹🇴

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HT

Jack Welsby & Hurrell’s tries, with a Tommy Makinson kick give us a 10-point lead at the break in the World Club Challenge.

39'

Hopoate with a superb tackle to stop the Panthers on their left-edge.

🐾 0-10 😇

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37'

Great kick from Dodd on the last near the line, Bell makes the tackle on Crichton to force a GLDO.

🐾 0-10 😇

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34'

LMS needs to come off the field, on comes Jake Wingfield. Let’s go Wingy! ✊

🐾 0-10 😇

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31'

It has been all Penrith these past five minutes but Saints hold firm and force a knock on from the hosts.

🐾 0-10 😇

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29'

More solid defence from the Saints as the Panthers have a set near the line.

🐾 0-10 😇

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27'

Makinson has to come off for a HIA, on comes James Bell.

Saints did well to defend their line but concede a GLDO.

🐾 0-10 😇

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26'

Two changes for Saints, Paasi on for Walmsley, LMS on for Lees.

🐾 0-10 😇

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25'

Saints threaten once more this time on the left-edge but the pass to Percival is awkward and goes loose.

🐾 0-10 😇

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☝ @jackwelsby_

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18'

Conversion unsuccessful from the sideline.

🐾 0-10 😇

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17'
Try
Konrad Hurrell for Saints

WHAT POWER FROM KONNIE! 💪

🐾 0-10 😇

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13'

🤯 How on earth has Jack Welsby got under the ball there and stopped a try?!

🐾 0-6 😇

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10'
Goal
Tommy Makinson for Saints

Tommy slots the extras over ✌

🐾 0-6 😇

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9'
Try
Jack Welsby for Saints

SUPER JACKKKK! The Saints make a line-break through Sironen and Welsby is there in support!

🐾 0-4 😇

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8'

There is thunder and lightning in Penrith! On the field too Welsby with a thunderous tackle to take the Panthers winger into touch.

🐾 0-0 😇

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5'

Panthers go to the other end, Hopoate deals with a kick that had to be leaped on well and stops the attack.

🐾 0-0 😇

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4'

Saints have the first chance of the game, a couple of close calls for Penrith but they hold firm for now.

🐾 0-0 😇

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Kick Off

KICK-OFF! The 2023 #WorldClubChallenge is underway at the BlueBet Stadium!

COME ON YOU SAINTS!

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Game mode. 🔛

@jackwelsby_

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Game mode. 🔛

@jackwelsby_

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Game mode. 🔛

@jackwelsby_

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Game mode. 🔛

@jackwelsby_

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Champs 🤝 Champs

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Good to see this man in the line-up 👀

@MorgsKnowles

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Plenty of Saints fans are dotted around the BlueBet Stadium, thank you so much for coming all this way!

🌏🏆 Here is how your Saints line-up for the 2023 World Club Challenge

It’s the best of Super League taking on the best of the NRL, the Penrith Panthers, for world glory!

It’s a hot one in Penrith 🥵

The Saints will be arriving in about an hour!

It’s a hot one in Penrith 🥵

The Saints will be arriving about an hour!

KICK-OFF TIMES

A reminder that the kick-off has moved back 50 minutes, so it will be a 7:50am start back home in the UK – for those over in Oz it starts at 6:50pm.

Good morning from Australia, it’s a morning to remember too because it is GAMEDAY for the World Club Challenge 2023!