ed. He smacked 52 off 24 balls against England, in an incredi

Phil Clarke says Super League players have a chance to forge a career highlight when facing NRL sides this weekend...The Grand Final, Christmas Day and the World Club Challenge are the three big annual events that I look forward to most in my life - Ive relegated the kids birthdays and my wedding anniversary to Tier 2 occasions and just hope that none of my family ever read this.My introduction to the World Club Challenge was an unforgettable moment in my life. Going to Central Park in 1987 to watch Wigan play against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the first official World Club Challenge is my strongest memory as a teenager. For many players in Super League the chance to beat an NRL team is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Phil Clarke It was a game that featured some of the Wigan greats, including Shaun Edwards and current Wigan coach Shaun Wane, who was man of the match on the day as Wigan ran out 8-2 winners despite my nerves before the game.I can still remember the music that they played at half-time and get taken back to that moment whenever it comes on the radio, even today. Id seen hundreds of games of rugby league in my life but nothing to compare with this, it looked like another sport. It was as though somebody had pressed fast forward on the Sky+ control, it was that quick. From that night on I have always loved the event and was lucky enough to play in a few in the early 90s. For many players in Super League the chance to beat an NRL team is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I feel fortunate to have had the chance to do it.Ive also been privileged to sit in the commentary box for some momentous games over the last 15 years. Johnathan Thurston has ruled out a move to the Super League I remember a superhuman performance by Stuart Fielden when Bradford Bulls beat the Newcastle Knights in Huddersfield. I recall a snow-covered pitch in Bolton when Paul Sculthorpe inspired a St Helens comeback over the Brisbane Broncos, and I have a clear picture of a clinical and dominant performance by Michael Maguires South Sydney Rabbitohs at Langtree Park 12 months ago.Weve been treated to some classics clashes between the two hemispheres over the years, but what will they deliver this year? Its hard to say much about the NRL teams since this will be the first run out for most of them, but history shows us that their players, coaches and assistants tend to make a big effort to impress.Several of them will end up over here in the future, some in the near future. This series is a sort of unofficial job interview for them as they get a small window to show what they can do. South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrate after beating St Helens in 2015 It will also be a chance for the rest of Super League to look on and see if the NRL teams have developed any new way of attacking or defending. The game slowly evolves and most new developments tend to come from down under.Obviously the home teams have several advantages, but from the way that they played last weekend they may need them. I cant tell you what was in the minds of the St Helens, Wigan and Leeds players last week but I do suspect that they were all subconsciously distracted by the fact that they will face the best of the NRL this weekend.Its tough not to be distracted by it. They will have seen adverts around their ground, heard the office staff talking about publicising it and taken part in sessions with the coaches in which their antipodean opponents have been mentioned. The strength and conditioning staff may even have talked about peaking for this one-off challenge and it is a big thing to them and their club. For those who do not get to play internationally this could be the biggest game of their career. A win would make it the highlight.Last week must have felt like a dress rehearsal and one that didnt go that well, but I think that they will all look like different men this weekend. Two of the three games in 2015 were brilliant contests, and the third was a masterclass from Souths.I think that we will see at least one win for the Super League teams this year, and hope that it is two, but truth be told I have the same nerves that I had back in 87 - lets hope these nerves are also unfounded.Watch the World Club Challenge live on Sky Sports, starting with St Helens v Sydney Roosters on Friday night from 7.30pm. Can the Super League teams win the series? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below if viewing on skysports.com or Tweet us @SkySportsRLAlso See:Thurston rules out Super League moveSix NRL players to watchRobinson: Series worth the riskEden to make Broncos bowVans Authentic Pas Cher . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Achat Vans Pas Cher . PAUL, Minn. http://www.paschervans.fr/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Vans Pas Cher Destockage . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Chaussures Vans Authentic Soldes . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is.So, the World T20 is over. But do not fear, there are more T20 fireworks in store with the start of the 2016 Indian Premier League on Saturday.Not only that, but many of the six-hitting and wicket-taking superstars of the World T20 are sticking around in India for the IPL, including the winners…CARIBBEAN CHAMPIONSGet ready for more dancing for one, but also more carefree calypso cricket, with no less than six of West Indies World T20 winning squad playing in the IPL. IPL live on Sky Get the full IPL experience with Sky Sports England - and more specifically, Ben Stokes - destroyer in the final, Carlos Brathwaite, will be trying to add to those four-straight sixes off Stokes final over when he trots out for the Delhi Daredevils.Then, of course, there is the superstar attraction that is Chris Gayle, competing again for Royal Challengers Bangalore in front of his adoring home fans - the same ones who booed the West Indies when an injured Gayle didnt come out to bat in their win over Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Carlos Brathwaite will have a lot more attention after his World T20 final exploits Gayle is joined in Bangalore by leg-spinner Samuel Badree following his impressive tournament - taking nine wickets at 13.77 and an impeccable economy of 5.39 - while death-bowling specialist and chief Champion, Dwayne Bravo, is with the newly-formed Gujarat Lions due to the two-year suspension of his former team, Chennai Super Kings, and the Rajasthan Royals. Get ready to see much more of this from Dwayne Bravo (Left) and Chris Gayle (Right) at the IPL Stars from the semi-final win over India, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell, complete the Caribbean line-up, remaining with their respective 2015 teams, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.ENGLISH INTERESTJos Buttler is the main draw, competing in the IPL for the very first time, for Mumbai, and coming into the tournament with some sensational form under his belt too. He cracked 191 runs at the World T20 - including 12 sixes - averaging 47.75, with a strike rate of 159.16. He also hit a 73-ball ODI hundred against South Africa and an England record-fastest 46 ball ton against Pakistan this winter. Jos Buttler gets his first taste of the IPL with Mumbai Indians His international skipper Eoin Morgan returns for another IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, although his feast-or-famine form is currently firmly stuck in famine territory after only managing 66 runs in six World T20 innings for England.dddddddddddd But as weve seen before, he can quickly rediscover his touch as quickly as he can lose it.The only other English interest surprisingly comes in the form of Sam Billings, with the Kent wicket-keeper batsman earning his first taste of the IPL after being picked up by Delhi.HOME NATION HEROES Virat Kohli averaged over 100 for India at the World T20 There is plenty of Indian representation as always in the IPL, but few truly starred at the World T20. Virat Kohli certainly was one of them though, the Royal Challengers batsman was arguably the player of the tournament, with his 273 runs - at an astonishing average of 136.50 - leading the way (if you discount the early rounds with the associate nations).Indian skipper MS Dhoni didnt quite dazzle like he can do on the world stage, but still makes for an intriguing watch with new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants, who also boast the services of Kevin Pietersen, while the seemingly ageless Ashish Nehra - who previously played with Dhoni in Chennai - joins Sunrisers off the back of an impressive World T20. He took only five wickets in the tournament, but bowling often in the powerplay overs, went for only 5.94 runs an over.OTHER STAR NAMES Shane Watson stays in India after playing his final game for Australia at the World T20 Shane Watson is now done with international cricket, bowing out after a terrific all-round World T20 tournament where he averaged 48.00 with the bat, and took five wickets at 20.60 with the ball. But he carries on in the IPL, playing with the Royal Challengers for the first time.Re-joining the Daredevils is Quinton de Kock who continued his fine form at the World T20 while others in the South Africa side struggled. He smacked 52 off 24 balls against England, in an incredible game that theyd ultimately lose despite scoring 229. Bangladeshs Mustafizur Rahman was a standout performer at the World T20 Following on from his nine wickets in three World T20 outings for Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman - who joins up with Sussex in the T20 Blast later this summer - first has a spell with Sunrisers, while international team-mate Shakib Al Hasan is back with the Knight Riders.Sky Sports is the only place you can watch all the action from the 2016 IPL, starting on Saturday as Jos Buttlers Mumbai Indians meet Kevin Pietersen and the Rising Pune Supergiants live on Sky Sports 3 from 3pm.Also See:How to watch IPLLive cricket on SkyGet Sky SportsButtler joins Mumbai Indians ' ' '