Rhinos on top of the world

Leeds maintained Super League's dominance in the World Club Challenge with an 11-4 win over Melbourne Storm at Elland Road.

The Rhinos made sure the NRL champions returned Down Under as losers for a fifth successive year, though victory came at a price for Brian McClennan's side.

Both Danny McGuire and Clinton Toopi were forced off with injuries in a physical contest played out in terrible conditions.

With each side managing a try apiece, Kevin Sinfield's seven-point haul with the boot proved the difference between the two teams.

Heavy going

A heavy wind coupled with the odd shower meant points were never going to be in plentiful supply, leading to an old-fashioned battle of strength and stamina.

Melbourne, who had enjoyed a warm-up win over Halifax seven days ago, put up a tremendous display considering they are still in pre-season back home.

At one stage they led 4-2 as Ryan Hoffman's try cancelled out an early penalty from Sinfield from in front of the posts.

Rob Burrow's knock-on led to the second-rower crossing on the left with Leeds caught out of kilter in defence following Storm captain Cooper Cronk's long pass out wide.

With McGuire forced off soon after, the Rhinos were struggling to make an impact, particularly as a constant stream of penalties allowed their opponents to escape from their own half when under pressure.

They finally came to life just before the break, helped by a heavy hit from Jamie Jones-Buchanan on Steve Turner that lifted the crowd and his team-mates.

Burrow's clever chip over the top nearly put Brent Webb in but he knocked on when confronted with opposite number Billy Slater.

However, the New Zealander was soon buzzing in attack again, running across field before sending out a delayed pass to allow Donald to go over.

Crucial penalty

Sinfield impressively converted from the touchline to make it 8-4 at the interval and he pushed the lead out to six points with a penalty on the hour mark after Jeff Lima's late hit on Burrow was seen by referee Ashley Klein.

Carl Ablett looked like he had wrapped up the result when he got on the end of Burrow's kick with nobody at home for Melbourne.

Yet his sheepish look when he scored hinted he had knocked on after the ball had come off his knee, something the television official, Phil Bentham, noticed in the replays to rule out the try.

With time ticking down Sinfield decided to drop over a goal early in the tackle count, leaving Melbourne needing two scores going into the closing stages.

The closest they came was when Anthony Quinn put a foot into touch trying to squeeze in out wide on the left.

In the end Leeds comfortably stood firm, the Rhinos winning out to be crowned world champions for the second time and at the same venue where they beat Canterbury Bulldogs to lift the trophy in 2005.