It's our two grand finalists and next highest placed league finisher against NRL grand final winners, Rabbitos and Broncos. If Rabbitos win their grand final it will be one other invitational spot as many of the NRL teams have no wish to travel all the way to UK to play a 'friendly' unless it's actually for the WCC trophy.

So if our grand final is say Wigan v Wire and Saints win the hub cap, those 3 teams will be the SL representatives.

See that's the problem people have ignored/haven't seen.

Whilst the actual WCC match will see a pretty much full strength team put out by the NRL team, the other two matches are likely to be the NRL team putting out it's second string. They were always a bit reluctant to put out the starters when the trophy was up for grabs, a SL 3rd place team vs Invited NRL team with no trophy to win.......they'll be going through the motions with all the star players missing.

You're so damn negative (and another one that can't discern the difference between it's and its )

FFS Your right. Let's just scrap the idea and not bother testing ourselves against the nrl sides!

Nope if people want it then that's fine.....but they said the same about Yorkshire vs Lancashire, England vs a team of SL based Southern Hemisphere stars, an enlarged playoffs as it's the same 5/6 teams every year.

People will turn around and complain once it's put into practise, they always do in RL.

You see, that's what I don't get. If it's a single round of matches, then what you have is a World Club Challenge. With the title "World Club Champions" at stake. And a trophy.

Then you have what are in effect two ill-timed friendlies. Why are people going to care about the friendlies.

Testing yourself against the best is well and good. But it won't be the best. It'll be the best's B team.

Yeah but people hear "NRL" and get all gooey eyed and drool

The Aussies seem to take the WCC pretty seriously now so if this is successful then it can only get better. I don't get gooey eyed about nrl teams. I just like to give something a shot before tearing it down. Glass half full kinda guy.

The NRL champions may well continue to take the WCC seriously but has pointed out already the other two games most probably won't be - so why include them?

I thought the concept was to have each comp's 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 3 v 3 squaring off. Where do Brisbane (2014) figure in that - and that's if they even make it.

Brisbane and Rabbitohs are playing "exhibition games" this time around.

A pre-season friendly, after our season starts?

Whoop.

They are dipping their toes. We can support and hope it leads to a real comp which we all want.

Or do it down and not.

I wouldn't have a problem dragging myself to Headingley to watch us play against any of the likely opponents, "exhibition match" or not. Surely the only way to grow and improve this, is for people to get behind and show interest?

It's also the brand awareness for any club involved, which is why I am sure all the clubs will be wanting to take part in it. Attracts new fans globally.