Seven of the eight National Rugby League finals sides "will reject an invitation" to play English runner-up Warrington in February, according to Dean Ritchie of the DAILY TELEGRAPH. The two-game World Series "will pit the NRL and Super League champions -- Cronulla and Wigan -- against each other in the traditional World Club Challenge." The two runners-up -- Melbourne and Warrington -- are also supposed to meet, "but the problem is Melbourne want to bypass the 35,000km round trip." The next team in line, third-placed Canberra, "also have no interest," nor does North Queensland. The NRL and Super League have an agreement that two Australian teams "must travel to England," but there is not any stipulation on which team. The NRL club to play the match "will pocket" A$100,000 ($76,000) with the remaining A$300,000 ($228,000) to cover costs. Melbourne CEO Dave Donaghy has "no interest in increasing the pressure on his players." He said, "We do have some serious concerns about travelling across to the other side of the world two weeks out from our season starting for what is effectively a trial match" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/9).
