Leeds Rhinos Nostalgia: Star trio were on song as Melbourne Storm edged past Leeds in 2013

It may not have as much appeal Down Under, but the clash between the rival hemispheres’ top two teams is a game every Super League club wants to play in, as it takes a Grand Final win to qualify.

Rhinos lifted the trophy after each of their first two attempts, but have since found the going tough against some exceptional NRL sides.

Coach Brian McDermott’s team gave a good account of themselves in front of a 20,400 full house at Headingley on February 22, 2013, but old foes Melbourne Storm held on to win 18-14.

Storm’s brains trust of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater were the difference in a tight encounter, which the Aussie edged after the 16 first-half points had been shared.

Leeds had Kallum Watkins standing in at full-back for Zak Hardaker, who was ruled out because of a broken thumb and Joe Vickery – signed after scoring two tries as a trialist against Wakefield Trinity in the Boxing Day fixture – on the right-wing.

Smith booted an early penalty and converted after Slater touched down, but Rhinos powered back with a brilliant finish by Ryan Hall, a touchline conversion from Kevin Sinfield and a penalty to level the scores.

Two tries in three minutes early in the second half, by Jesse Bromwich and Tohu Harris – plus a Smith conversion – left Rhinos with a mountain to climb.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan’s try on 53 minutes, converted by Sinfield, got them back into the game, but they couldn’t close the gap any further.

It was the third of four World Club Challenge meetings between the sides.

Leeds drew first blood with a gritty 11-4 victory – Scott Donald scoring their lone try and Sinfield kicking the rest of Rhinos’ points – on a wet and windy night at Elland Road in 2008.

Storm gained revenge on the same ground two years later with an 18-10 win and easily beat a much-weakened Leeds team 38-4 in Melbourne three years ago, after Hall’s try had given Rhinos an early lead.

Leeds’ other World Club Challenge victories came in 2005 against Canterbury Bulldogs at Elland Road and 2012 when Manly Sea Eagles were defeated at Headingley.

The win over Canterbury was one of the most memorable nights in the Leeds club’s history, in front of a massive 37,028 crowd.

Leeds, with Gareth Ellis making his debut, raced into a 20-point half-time lead, but the Aussies hit back in the second half, rallying to within six points after trailing 38-12, before Sinfield’s late drop goal sealed a 39-32 victory for the Super League champions.

Hall stole the show in 2012 with a brace of tries, including a length of the field interception, when Manly were beaten 26-12 at a packed-out Headingley.

That was revenge for the Sea Eagles’ 28-20 success at Elland Road in 2009.

North Queensland Cowboys proved too good in 2016, but only after a makeshift Leeds team – with Liam Sutcliffe and Jordan Lilley in the halves – had given them a first-half fright.

It was 4-4 at the break, Rob Burrow having levelled the scores with a 33rd-minute touchdown, but the visitors ran in six goals in the final stanza.

Leeds had Aussie forward Mitch Garbutt sent off seven minutes from time for punching James Tamou.

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