England coach Wayne Bennett "has pledged Brisbane's backing for the 2017 World Club Series," according to the PA. Plans for the annual clash between the leading clubs from Super League and the National Rugby League "were thrown into disarray earlier this week" when Melbourne officially withdrew. Their lack of interest "was quickly matched by several rival NRL clubs." Brisbane had offered to host Wigan if it had lost the Super League grand final and Bennett, a long-time advocate of the int'l game, said that he has "already been in touch" with Rugby Football League CEO Nigel Wood to "reassure him of his club's commitment to the series." Bennett: "We would be keen to travel. I spoke to Nigel on Monday night and told him that the whole concept has got the club's backing" (PA, 10/12). RUNNING RUGBY reported the game is reportedly worth A$400,000 ($303,000) to the visiting club, "but a good proportion of that is to cover travel and accommodation expenses." Broncos Chair Dennis Watt said that the club "has been working on hosting an English club well known to Queensland audiences in February." Watt: "That’s still a project for us, but if the (RFL) want us to play in their match, we wouldn’t want to see the WSC concept be diminished" (RUNNING RUGBY, 10/12).
