World Club Challenge as it happened

1. NRL sides win World Club Series 3-0
2. Cowboys win World Club Challenge for first time
3. Leeds try: Burrow
4. Cowboys tries: Morgan, Linnett, Feldt, Coote, Thurston, O'Neill 2
5. Leeds forward Mitch Garbutt sent off

NRL proves its world-class

PA

So the NRL runs out 3-0 winners, with Leeds, Wigan and St Helens all conceding 30-plus points to North Queensland, Brisbane and Sydney Roosters.

However, there's still plenty of rugby league to be played in the northern hemisphere with Super League back on Thursday night. There's much to be proud of and to enjoy about our game.

There's always next year, eh?

For now though, thanks for joining us throughout the World Club Series. Goodbye and good night.

What next for the Rhinos?

Brian McDermott's side will dust themselves down and head for Perpignan next Saturday for a trip to Catalans.

They won there last season in the regular season, one of only two teams to do so.

They'll probably do it without prop Mitch Garbutt, whose punch to the face of James Tamou saw him sent off.

The disciplinary hearing will decide his fate next week.

FT: Leeds Rhinos 4-38 North Queensland Cowboys

So defeat for Leeds Rhinos, soured further by Mitch Garbutt's dismissal for striking James Tamou.

For North Queensland the smiles are evidence of what this World Club Challenge means to them. They're WORLD CHAMPS. Less than a year after their maiden NRL premiership.

Want more detail? Here's Phil Cartwright's considered report.

Rex Features

FT: Leeds Rhinos 4-38 North Queensland Cowboys

The champagne spills, the fireworks whizz and the cheers go up. North Queensland co-captains Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston lift the World Club Challenge shield to the tune of the club song.

Four years in a row now for the NRL teams in this competition. Smiles all round the NRL premiers.

FT: Leeds Rhinos 4-38 North Queensland Cowboys

And now it's the turn of the North Queensland Cowboys, who are full of smiles and back-slaps.

Job done for the boys from Townsville and a chance for a last celebration before their NRL season begins...

FT: Leeds Rhinos 4-38 North Queensland Cowboys

The beaten Leeds side goes up to receive their runners-up prizes, a few glum faces wondering what might have been.

Plenty of promise though. The season is just beginning...

FT: Leeds Rhinos 4-38 North Queensland Cowboys

The Graham Murray Medal is awarded to Johnathan Thurston. Poignant moment, marking the significance of a man who coached both teams.

Round of applause for Thurston who is a huge favourite. He reciprocates with a bow.

Leeds captain Rob Burrow told Sky Sports

"Our goal was to come out and match them in the first 40, we went in with energy but couldn't execute in second half.

"When they're on a roll it's hard to stop them.

[On the Garbutt punch] "That happens when big guys go against each other with force, but we've just got to get on with it."  

Cowboys co-skipper Johnathan Thurston told Sky Sports

"It was good we got a few tries so I could hand the kicking tees out to the crowd.

"The first 40 was tit for tat, set for set, they put us under the pump.

"We knew they'd come at us hard but we got control in the second half and got some points.

"It's a good reward for last year and couldn't be prouder of the boys. We've worked hard and they deserve everything they get."

SWPIX.COM

Full time

Leeds Rhinos fought hard but ultimately it was brilliant from North Queensland.

Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan made the most of the platform set by the powerful forwards and their back-line profited.

It's a convincing win for the southern hemisphere and 3-0 NRL whitewash...

Leeds Rhinos 4-38 North Queensland

Tired bodies out there for Leeds. First Matt Scott trundled forward menacingly, then Jason Taumalolo continued the charge. Forward pass let the Cowboys down at the end.

Inside the last minute.

TRY (O'Neill, con Thurston)

Massive crossfielder from Jake Granville is taken by Kyle Feldt, Michael Morgan scampers forward with it and O'Neill crosses for his second. That's a last-tackle play and a half.

Johnathan Thurston - not involved in that try for once - lands the goal from the right of the sticks. Outside of his foot nonchalant. Just playfully brilliant.

Getty Images

Leeds Rhinos 4-32 North Queensland Cowboys

The temperature has soared after that incident. It's frenetic and angry.

Now Richard Silverwood has gone upstairs with Josh Walters over the line... No try on the field.

No try in the video ref box too. No try basically.

Garbutt sent off, Tamou sin-binned

George Riley

BBC Sport commentator

Mitch Garbutt can have no complaints. It's an ugly end to what's been an ugly half for the Rhinos.

RED CARD (Garbutt)

Rex Features

Garbutt landed a big punch on Tamou. He goes. Silly and costly long-term for the Rhinos front-rower.

SIN-BIN (Tamou)

Tamou gets 10 for his misdemeanour...

Leeds Rhinos 4-32 North Queensland Cowboys

That's been brewing! James Tamou and Mitch Garbutt go head to head, and the Leeds man absolutely stuck one on him.

Tamou had been having a tet-a-tet with Keith Galloway, but Garbutt stepped in and smashed the New South Wales prop.

TRY (O'Neill, con Thurston)

Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan combine to put Justin O'Neill over. They're on fire at the moment.

The South Stand continues to belt out 'All Leeds are we' - can't fault the effort.

Thurston teases a beautiful curling kick through. 28 points in it now. Ouch.

15 minutes to go

Rex Features

This pic sums up the last 25 minutes for Leeds. Just overpowered in this second half. The whitewash for the NRL is all but sealed.

TRY (Thurston, con Thurston)

Back to back tries and Jake Granville's sniping created this one for Johnathan Thurston.

Thurston hit a good line and snapped his way over. Adds his own conversion to pull North Queensland well clear.