Robinson proposes four-year WCC hosting cycle

Victorious Roosters coach Trent Robinson has suggested a four-year World Club Challenge cycle sharing hosting rights between NRL and Super League clubs after being enthralled with the spectacle put on by St Helens on Saturday night.

The Roosters created history with back-to-back World Club Challenge titles and their fifth triumph courtesy of a hard fought 20-12 win at Totally Wicked Stadium.

A crowd of over 16,000 were in full voice despite freezing conditions and Robinson paid tribute to the St Helens club's investment in the event.

Earlier this week Robinson called for the NRL and Super League governing bodies to take control of the fixture's scheduling, and after full-time proposed a formalised system where English sides would host three games for every one put on by the NRL premiers.

"I would play three in England and one in Australia, that's what I'd play as far as far as the World Club Challenge goes," Robinson said.

"I'd play three to one. But it can be organised so we don't have to decide at the end of every year.

"We can create a grand final feel or a world champion feel to this game like Saints did tonight.

"There was no gap at all. That was the two best teams in rugby league going at it. Walking out there tonight, it was just the spectacle that St Helens put on was amazing.

"It was such a finals footy game [atmosphere]. There were stands singing, it was amazing. For Saints to say 'come over here, we're going put this on. It's in the middle of our season but we're going to build this up', it was incredible."

Robinson was chuffed with his side's first hit-out of 2020, and in particular rookie half Kyle Flanagan.

In his first game since arriving from junior club Cronulla, he had a hand in two tries for centre Joey Manu and impressed in difficult conditions.

"A pretty nice debut," Robinson said of his new No.7.

"He had some really nice kicks, he had to defend well out on that edge. He had some quite testing players coming at him. And then had two really nice touches for tries ... I thought that's a pretty good start for a guy that's played nine NRL games."

The Roosters came through the clash unscathed with Angus Crichton recovering well from a heavy head knock that cut his first game at centre short.