St Helens 0, Sydney City Roosters 38: If the Bulls could choose who would succeed them as world champions, they would probably have gone for Sydney.

And, like Bradford the year before, the Roosters are deserving of the accolade 'the best club team on the planet'.

In one of the most complete displays of rugby superiority you could have wished for, Brad Fittler's men set about destroying the Saints in every department.

They didn't just win a title last night, they set the standard for how the sport should be played.

Ferocious in the tackle, intelligent when kicking from hand, devastating down either wing and displaying a range of passes of which the Harlem Globetrotters would have been proud.

They displayed every Australian characteristic in humiliating the home side in front of a partisan crowd, albeit 2,000 smaller than the one which witnessed the Bulls lift this trophy in 2002.

Craig Fitzgibbon, with the first try and nine goals from as many attempts for a record points haul of 22, was the star of the show, but it was a solid show from the full 17 in a near faultless and almost bully-like defensive effort.

From the outset, it was clear the Roosters were prepared to do damage with their feet. Even early in the tackle count they were sending out searching balls and, as a result, commanded superior field position at all times. At 2-0 up a forward pass ruled out a Jason Hooper effort and the scoring spree began.

Two more penalties followed, including a needless late Barry Ward elbow, before Fitzgibbon picked up and ran home a Chris Flannery kick for the first try of the night.

And then a minute before half-time came a sensational moment for the watching public.

A seven-pass move, including the obligatory over-the-top and round-the-corner off-loads, culminated in British forward Adrian Morley charging over the line.

The former Leeds man, despite his heritage, played like an Australian all night and crossing the whitewash to complete such a complex and pleasing move was the least he deserved.

After the break, Saints began to come back into it a little, but you could sense the Roosters were ready to unleash again.

Darren Albert pulled off a cracking last-ditch tackle to reel in Flannery but a breakaway try, courtesy of the new rule about knock-ons as part of tackles, effectively ended the game as a contest.

Brett Finch tackled Sean long and knocked the ball forward before releasing the sensational Todd Byrne to race 80 yards and score.

For a change, the video referee ruled against Saints and the try was rightly allowed to stand.

Skipper Fittler then picked off a stray Darren Britt off-load to grab a second superb breakaway try as the Aussies cruised into an increasingly impressive lead.

Fitzgibbon added another penalty before the Australians once again displayed their ridiculous commitment and dedication to winning.

Despite the massive lead, Anthony Minichiello still strained every sinew to hold up Ward over the line and keep Saints with a zero next to their name.

The visitors rounded off their evening with another neat move, which saw cut-out passes get the ball from wing to centre for Fittler to send in Todd Payten for the final try of the night.

Bulls fans will have found last night as funny as Johnny Vegas.