The NRL have been forced to search for two clubs to participate in the annual World Club Challenge after 2016 runners-up Melbourne snubbed an invite on Monday.Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said that with a number of their stars already travelling to England for the upcoming Four Nations tour, the club opted to prepare for their 2017 campaign at home.As a club, weve decided that staying in Australia will provide our team with the best possible preparation for the 2017 NRL season, Donaghy said.Having treasured past visits to the UK in 2008, 2010 and 2013, we thoroughly value the concept of the World Club Challenge.However a regular NRL season is already incredibly taxing and, as a non-Sydney team, our players travel more than most.The Storms snub of the six-team tournament is sure to raise the validity of the Challenge, with this seasons top eight teams reportedly reluctant to travel to England in February.NRL premiers Cronulla are locked in to face Super League champions Wigan, however the NRL will now have to look at the bottom half of their table to represent Australia.Top eight finishers Canberra, North Queensland, Brisbane, Penrith, Canterbury and Gold Coast are all understood to be hesitant on participating in the tournament.Donaghy said staying at home would be a more prudent way for the Storm to prepare for 2017.We have committed to playing two trial matches in Australia which we believe will serve as a better lead-in for the team ahead of next years opening round, he said.We wish Cronulla all the best as the NRLs representative against the champion team of England, Wigan.The Storm have a total of five players representing Australia and New Zealand in this weekends Test match in Perth, before the sides meet again in the Four Nations later this month.The Sydney Roosters participation in the 2016 series in February, where they beat St Helens 38-12, may back up the clubs concerns about player burn-out close to the season opener.The 2015 minor premiers lost the first eight games of the season, although there were other contributing factors to their poor start including Mitchell Pearces suspension.Fellow participants Brisbane and North Queensland fared considerably better, with the 2015 premiers winning three of their five NRL starts in 2016 and the Broncos four. Custom Maple Leafs Jerseys . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Cheap Custom Maple Leafs Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. http://www.custommapleleafsjersey.com/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Maple Leafs Jerseys China . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. MIDDLESBROUGH, England -- Adam Lallana scored two goals and set up another to inspire Liverpool to a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough in the English Premier League on Wednesday, as goalkeeper Simon Mignolet marked his return with a clean sheet.Mignolet regained his starting spot in place of Loris Karius, who was dropped after making errors in the last two matches, but had little to do in a game that Liverpool controlled at Riverside Stadium.Lallana headed home Nathaniel Clynes cross to put Liverpool ahead in the 29th minute, and provided a low cross that was swept in by Divock Origi for the second goal in the 60th.Lallana scored his sixth goal of the season, converting a pass from Origi in the 68th, to wrap up an impressive dissplay.dddddddddddd That third goal ensured Liverpool climbed to second in the standings, above Arsenal on goal difference but still six points behind Chelsea.Karius paid the price for fumbling a shot to gift Bournemouth an injury-time winner on Dec. 4, and for allowing Dimitri Payets free kick to get past him for a goal in Liverpools 2-2 draw with West Ham on Sunday. Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has defended Karius in the face of mounting media criticism in recent weeks.Mignolet started the season ahead of Karius, a summer signing from Mainz, before losing his place midway through September. ' ' '
