BBC Sport's Nathan Middleton at Langtree Park: "A muted end to the half for the Langtree Park crowd, who have quietened throughout the first 40 minutes as they've watched their side being outplayed by a dominant Souths side.

"Russell Crowe, who is sitting metres from the press box, has been leaning forward in his seat for the majority of the game, in between beaming smiles when his team has crossed.

"'I Dreamed A Dream' is currently being sung by an opera singer as half-time entertainment - Saints fans will be dreaming as big as possible to have any chance of getting back in this game."

The highest winning margin in a World Club Challenge match is 38 points. Sydney Roosters won 38-0 in 2003, while Melbourne were 44-6 victors three years earlier.

The defeated side on both occasions? St Helens.

Richie Myler
Warrington scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"From the word go it has been all Rabbitohs. They have controlled the game, kicked it well and put St Helens under a lot of pressure. At 24-0 at half-time you are almost saying game over."

That's not the scoreline that St Helens or Super League fans would have been hoping for at half-time. Saints held their own for about 20 minutes but South Sydney Rabbitohs have shown their quality since then. Looks like being 3-0 to the Aussies...

Again it's no try. Mark Percival, his head bandaged and with a massive smear of blood on his cheek, loses his grip on the ball as he looks to ground it. More disappointment for the centre, the second time he's been denied by the video referee.

Jon Wilkin's kick is charged down and the St Helens captain collects the rebound. The tackle count is reset. Again we go to the video referee as Mark Percival looks to get Saints on the scoreboard...

A chance here for St Helens to build something before half-time. Boy, do they need it. Thomas Burgess goes in with the shoulder on Tommy Makinson and Saints have a penalty on halfway.

Allan Rooney
BBC Radio Merseyside

"That was a jammy try. The wicked bounce of the ball has defeated St Helens and it would have defeated anybody. That is a huge slice of luck for the Rabbitohs.

"That's what happens when you are second best - nothing seems to go right for you."

From bad to worse for St Helens, as the kick-off from Jonny Lomax goes out on the full.

Image source, SWpix.com

We're only 31 minutes in and this World Club Challenge could be all over already. John Sutton's lofted kick takes a horrible bounce for the Saints defenders, travels along the try line and Joel Reddy gratefully collects it to touch down. Adam Reynolds slots over the goal.

St Helens have Souths on the back foot momentarily, but all the air is let out of the balloon as, having gone through their set of six, Saints are ruled to be offside while the Rabbitohs are in possession.

St Helens need to get over before half-time to retain any sort of hope of a comeback. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook is held up over the line on the third tackle. Jon Wilkin kicks on the next and Greg Inglis bats it behind. Another drop-out and another attacking set for Saints.

Patrick Sopp:, external Souths are at a whole other level.

Abdullah Mahmood:, external And out comes the goanna. Sounds like Saints are just being outclassed here by the Rabbitohs.

Steve Fitchett:, external Come on @Saints1890 Stuck in the US and this ain't lifting the mood. Hopeless refin' again.

Terrific response from Saints, four or five men in white send Thomas Burgess flying backwards and eventually force Souths to concede a goal-line drop-out.

Image source, Getty Images

Greg Inglis is over for a third Souths try after 23 minutes. A simple score, really, as Souths work it wide to the left and Inglis goes over from close range. You could hear a pin drop inside Langtree Park as Adam Reynolds kicks the goal.

Adam Reynolds beats Jordan Turner on halfway and streaks clear before passing to the supporting Dylan Walker, who crosses with ease. Reynolds misses with the kick but Souths are 12-0 up with a quarter of the match gone. Danger signs for Saints.

A bit of Harlem Globetrotters-style handling from South Sydney to keep the ball alive on the sixth tackle. Greg Inglis lofts a kick to the corner and Saints watch out of play. Souths getting on top here.

Wonderful take of a high bomb from St Helens full-back Jonny Lomax. He missed last season's Grand Final win over Wigan because of injury and will be keen to make the most of this massive occasion, for sure.

Mistake there from the hosts, who attempt to go down the blind side and leave Mark Percival a little isolated. Percival against three South Sydney defenders? Only one winner. Well, three, as they barge Percival into touch.