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Melbourne Storm confirm they are the greatest club side in rugby league at the moment with a devastating seven-try victory against Leeds Rhinos.

Any fears that Cooper Cronk's absence would have an impact on the 2017 NRL premiers were quickly dispelled, as young Brodie Croft came in and looked settled from the off alongside the star quality of Cameron Smith and Billy Slater.

Leeds return to lick their wounds, the Storm lay down a marker for the start of their NRL season next month.

Thanks for joining me this morning. Have a great weekend.

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It's not all that long ago that Bradford Bulls were representing Super League in the World Club Challenge.

Serious financial issues saw them slip away from the game's elite and eventually, in January 2017, into liquidation.

Bradford now play in League One - the third tier of domestic rugby league - and were paired with West Wales Raiders in the third round of the Challenge Cup earlier this week.

BBC Sport will stream one match from each of the early rounds of the competition, building up to television coverage in the latter stages of the tournament and culminating in the final at Wembley on 25 August.

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So a chastening game for Leeds Rhinos, who gave their all, showed heart and character but come back with nothing.

They have the prospect of a long flight home, and the next step will be to build on their first two Super League win in the defence of their crown next week against Widnes.

Fingers crossed no significant injuries to Stevie Ward and Jack Walker, the Rhinos need to patch up and regroup.

Francis Cummins
Ex-Leeds player & assistant coach, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

The gulf between the two teams was immense in the end.

Leeds started brightly but losing Stevie Ward and Jack Walker were massive blows. When you come up against a team that are quite clearly the NRL's best, you need all of your charges as fit as they can be.

It was a difficult night for Leeds.

Leeds miss out on a record-equalling fourth World Club Challenge title as Melbourne Storm show their championship qualities to put on 38 unanswered points.

Ryan Hall's try put the Rhinos in front but the response was ferocious, relentless and ruthless.

Seven tries put the NRL premiers in total control. They are the world champions. Deservedly so.

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Melbourne think they're in again as Dale Finucane takes the ball over the goalline and rolls the ball down. Looks a try...

Liam Sutcliffe goes to snuff out a chip close to the line but knocks on. His head dips in despair. So disappointing.

Melbourne just don't stop going. They are like the old Duracell battery.

Leeds once against are downtown in Storm territory.

They try offloading and keeping the ball alive to stretch the Storm defence but it stands firm.

Time almost up. There will be some extremely bruised and battered bodies in those sheds.

Ice baths aplenty.

Francis Cummins
Ex-Leeds player & assistant coach, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

You've got to take your hat off to Melbourne. They've scored 32 points put their goal-line defence is exceptional.

Leeds started this game playing what Aussies refer to as 'English-style' football, with offloading forwards and ball-players moving the ball around to confuse and bemuse the opposition.

However, the more Melbourne have come into this game the more they've swarmed and stopped that football.

Suliasi Vunivalu makes a searing break, offloads to Josh Addo-Carr who continues the Melbourne momentum.

Tim Glasby held up just short... oh an intercept! Kallum Watkins is away!

Addo-Carr gets back to cover tackle. Sensational recovery.

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Melbourne showing no let-up. They have the proverbial foot on the throat here.

Ryan Hoffman just held up on the last and Leeds get turnover ball, again just a metre from the line.

Ridiculous last-tackle play by Melbourne might just have yielded a try.

High kick to the right, Suliasi Vunivalu tips it back. Will Chambers gathers.

Did it go backwards? It's gone up as a try...

Leeds coming up with the ball, working Melbourne over left and right.

Still nothing since their first-half score and another last tackle kick comes to nothing.

Storm menacing again on the counter.

Francis Cummins
Ex-Leeds player & assistant coach, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

That's unlucky. It hits the post protector - it goes a few inches either way and they probably score a try.

Leeds get a penalty in range as Ryan Hall is stripped in the tackle. They could not bring him down.

Ball worked in field off the tap. Joel Moon tries to set Jamie Jones-Buchanan away. Boom. Stopped.

Then Brad Singleton goes close. Hauled down by a legs tackle by Felise Kaufusi.

Richie Myler clattered. Last tackle play gathered in goal by Cameron Munster. Then a kick goes to the posts but riccochets the wrong side of the pad to give Storm chance to mop up.

Leeds going so close but just can't get over the line.

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Drinks break to give the players a chance to suck in air and refresh those parched thirsts.

Leeds have shown glimpses of their quality but Melbourne Storm are on another plane.

Meanwhile, ball rolled out in goal so it's a Rhinos tap on the 20. This will be a LONG 15 minutes.

Final quarter of the game and the pace is starting to tell. Leeds players flagging under the heat and what has been a really high-energy, ball in play encounter.

There just isn't the punch there when they get the ball. However, a try would do them the world of good for an energy lift.

Melbourne's strength is in their defence, it takes something special to breach their line.

Psychologically it must be tough for Leeds' players to keep chugging away.

Not that it looks like they've given up as Kallum Watkins and Tom Briscoe work a move down the left...

Cameron Munster intercepts on the last and breaks, then Josh Addo-Carr skips away and suddenly Melbourne are in range.

Danger signs here...