TICKET sales for Friday night's World Club Challenge rugby league match at the Reebok Stadium look set to break the 20,000 barrier writes Chris Hall

The clash between British Super League champions St Helens and Australian premiers Sydney City Roosters has been taken away from the traditional rugby heartlands.

But Rugby Football League officials claim that has had no effect on sales, with the box office clamour matching that before Bradford's victory over Newcastle Knights at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium last year.

"Sales are going very well and we are on course for a big crowd comparable to last year's event, which pulled in 21,000 spectators," claimed a marketing spokesman.