Full Time
80:00
6:45am Sun February 23, 2020
WCC 2020 - Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens - Crowd: 16108
80min

That's all she wrote! Roosters are WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS!

79min

The Saints will look to finish the match in possession.

78min

Conversion: St Helens
Kicked by Tom Makinson.

Makinson bangs it over VERY quickly. Surely the Saints don't think they can do this.

Roosters lead St Helens 12 - 20 Roosters
78min

Try: St Helens
Scored by Alex Walmsley. Kick to come.

After a short video review, Alex Walmsley barges his way over in driving rain.

Roosters lead St Helens 10 - 20 Roosters
78min

Saints penalty for an escort effort by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. They have another set at the line.

76min

Things getting testy as the match winds down and the result is beyond reasonable doubt. Saints have a penalty 40m out.

72min

Penalty Goal: Roosters
Kicked by Siosiua Taukeiaho.

If there was any doubt, SST's penalty goal erases it. The Roosters will take home the WCC tonight.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 20 Roosters
71min

James Roby and Alex Walmsley on report there for an awful lifting tackle. Roosters will take the two.

70min

Conversion: Roosters
Kicked by Siosiua Taukeiaho.

This one's in front and SST will have a go instead - and converts.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 18 Roosters
69min

Try: Roosters
Scored by Luke Keary. Kick to come.

A big line break up the guts from Siosiua Taukeiaho and it's Keary in support to dot down under the sticks and seal what looks like a second consecutive World Club Challenge title for the Tricolours.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 16 Roosters
68min

The wind is picking up at St Helens - and there's an error from the Saints as they shift it right, Daniel Tupou is able to put enough pressure on the advancing attack. Roosters scrum.

67min

Sitili Tupouniua loses it off a short ball on his own 30m which hands the Saints another attacking chance.

66min

OH NO. Saints - a looping pass from Lomax... but Makinson can't get a grip on it down the right touchline.

63min

Time off with Matty Lees (STH) coming off for a HIA. Earlier, Crichton (SYD) failed his so won't return.

62min

Conversion: Roosters
Attempted by Kyle Flanagan.

Another go for Flanno... no crossbar or uprights this time - it's just faded away.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 12 Roosters
61min

Try: Roosters
Scored by Joseph Manu. Kick to come.

Joey Manu has reached out in the corner and just like that, the NRL champions extend their lead.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 12 Roosters
60min

For all that attacking footy, no points forthcoming for the Saints - and now the Roosters have it and work away upfield, picking up a penalty and have a full set starting 30m from the hosts' line.

58min

Makinson goes for the corner after the ball went right... but he's easily shown over the touchline by the Roosters defence.

57min

Angus Crichton off for a HIA now. On the field, Saints have forced the Roosters into touch on their own 10m off a last-tackle kick.

56min

Time off after Luke Keary went high on a Saints player but collected Nat Butcher instead. Saints have it 40m out.

56min

Now they concede a penalty which is marched a further 10m for dissent. Saints looking to establish momentum on this...

55min

Butcher coughs it up with the line begging! Roosters looking a little rattled here...

53min

Offload then a quick pass out wide and Bentley's effort goes past Costello into touch, in what otherwise would've been a certain try.

51min

Saints really showing some mettle in defence - getting up in numbers and preventing slides from the Roosters backs. Great contest.

50min

Saints error and the Roosters are off the hook.

49min

Confirmed no try, but with a Roosters error in the lead-up anyway, it's a Saints scrum.

49min

VIDEO REFEREE. Hicks has been called on to adjudicate a no try for Tom Makinson.

48min

Another attacking chance for the Saints inside the Roosters' 20m.

47min

Hot potato footy on the last eventually sees Zeb Taia prod it through the line on the toe, the Roosters push it dead... nope actually that's off a Saint and it's a 20m restart for the visitors.

44min

Lots of play in the middle third of the field at the moment, neither side has had sight of the opposition line until now - Saints put up a last tackle kick which traps Joey Manu in-goal. Drop-out.

41min

Play resumes with the Tricolours having the narrow advantage going into the second forty.

40min

We go to halftime in a tense, tight contest. Roosters by 2.

39min

Now Saints with the ball inside the Roosters 20m... but there's a forward pass picked up by Chris Kendall.

38min

No try. Saints 20m restart.

38min

We're off to video referee Rob Hicks to check what looks like a reasonably obvious no try for the Roosters. Ball was taken dead.

37min

Dangerous time here for Saints - the Roosters are on the attack inside the 20m zone with just three minutes til the break.

35min

Walmsley's HIA is clear and he can return. Meanwhile the Roosters are still dominating but the Saints' defence is solid and their limited attacking opportunities have been promising.

32min

Crichton to Tedesco but then it's ended up touch in-goal and a Saints 20m restart.

31min

Time called off with Victor Radley pinged for a high shot on Saints fullback Jack Welsby. Referee Chris Kendall issues a warning to Roosters' captain Jake Friend.

30min

Saints with an enterprising last tackle play with a grubber through the line about 40m out being regathered then going through several sets of hands before a forward pass puts paid to any hopes of a try. Roosters handover 10m out.

29min

Sitili Tupouniua spills it taking a low pass 15m from the Saints' line. A reprieve for the hosts.

28min

Penalty given away by Saints and the Roosters will have another shot at extending their narrow lead.

26min

A cross-field kick on the last finds the hands of Siosiua Taukeiaho for the Roosters but he's got plenty of attention and Saints force the handover.

26min

Fair bit of feeling in this one. Can confirm Alex Walmsley has gone off for a HIA, which sees Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook on for the hosts.

21min

Conversion: Roosters
Attempted by Kyle Flanagan.

Flanagan - who set up the try - can't convert! It's hit the crossbar this time as it just didn't have the legs.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 8 Roosters
20min

Try: Roosters
Scored by Joseph Manu. Kick to come.

Joey Manu goes over out wide to make up for his earlier poor pass and the visitors go ahead for the first time.

Roosters lead St Helens 6 - 8 Roosters
17min

The Roosters have the numbers to the right, but the quick hands are a little too quick, with Joey Manu's last pass ultimately resulting in a fumble from Brett Morris.

15min

Some solid defending from the Roosters, with Saints' winger Matty Costello forced into touch.

15min

JWH gives another penalty away and the Saints earn some respite and have the ball back in the Roosters' half.

12min

Conversion: Roosters
Attempted by Kyle Flanagan.

Flanagan lines up his first conversion attempt of 2020 and it's hit the post! No good.

St Helens lead St Helens 6 - 4 Roosters
11min

Try: Roosters
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.

Perfect hands to the left and Tupou tiptoes along the touchline and even betters the position.

St Helens lead St Helens 6 - 4 Roosters
10min

Roosters with their first foray into the Saints 20m off the back of a couple of penalties. Big test for Saints here.

7min

Conversion: St Helens
Kicked by Tom Makinson.

Fairly easy attempt for Makinson from beside the posts.

St Helens lead St Helens 6 - 0 Roosters
6min

Try: St Helens
Scored by Luke Thompson. Kick to come.

Fages runs laterally and finds future Bulldog Luke Thompson and he reaches out to score!

St Helens lead St Helens 4 - 0 Roosters
5min

And now a second penalty of the night for the home team, with Daniel Tupou going on too much with a tackle. Saints start the set just inside the Roosters' half.

4min

The Roosters work their way up the other end, but the last tackle kick trickles dead and it's a 20m restart for Saints.

2min

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves penalised for a high shot on Saints' back-rower Zeb Taia. The hosts go on the attack from the penalty.

1min

Chris Kendall blows the whistle and we're underway in the World Club Challenge.

Lights are on, pre-match light show is over, the rendition of "Oh When The Saints Go Marching In" from the home end is complete, and we're ready for some footy!

The teams walk out onto Totally Wicked Stadium. The venue is full and you better believe it's 99% St Helens too.

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Chris Kendall

Touch Judges: Liam Moore, Jack Smith

Video Referee: Robert Hicks

ST HELENS (12)
Tries: Luke Thompson, Alex Walmsley
Field Goals:
Conversions: Tom Makinson (2/2)
Penalty Goals:

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (20)
Tries: Daniel Tupou, Joseph Manu (2), Luke Keary
Field Goals:
Conversions: Kyle Flanagan (0/3), Siosiua Taukeiaho (1/1)
Penalty Goals: Siosiua Taukeiaho (1/1)