St Helens are now the World Champions after they defeated Penrith Panthers down under today.
It is a great win for Super League as it shows the quality of the competition.
Hull FC star Josh Griffin was one of the first to react to their win. Despite being one of the players trying to stop St Helens in 2023, he felt their win showed that Super League needs more respect:
Hopefully the NRL gives the Super League more respect after that win. Congratulations @saints1890 👏🏻
Former Super League official Robert Hicks believes that this is an opportunity for Super League to grow and felt it righted the wrongs of the World Cup.
Last year @RLWC2021 showed England has some amazing talented superstars who can go toe to toe with the best (remember many were our injured) Now @Saints1890 show @SuperLeague has plenty too. Congrats to an amazing team. Let's grow from here & talk up our comp #WorldClubChallenge
The togetherness of Super League in light of this was shown with the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants and even Wigan Warriors congratulating them:
A Women’s Super League star picked out Lewis Dodd’s amazing moment and comeback story as something that needs to drive the English game forward:
Lewis Dodd has just kicked Saints to victory in the World Club Challenge at the age of 21 after missing most of last season with an achilles injury! – that’s the type of rugby league news we should be shouting about! Great game! #rugbyleagueistherealwinner
Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Barrie McDermott believed it was the best win of the Super League era:
That’s the best result and performance by a British RL team on foreign soil!!! Saints absolutely deserved that win and dominated from start to finish so glad they/we won well done Wello and every single one of those boys 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 https://t.co/tcn24uaes1
