Manly Sea Eagles dealt a body blow to the reputation of Super League with a crushing 28-20 victory over champions Leeds Rhinos in the 2009 Carnegie World Club Challenge at Elland Road.

The Australian grand final winners ran in five tries, three of them in a devastating five-minute spell at the start of the second half, to end the winning run of English clubs in the annual global challenge.

It was the first overseas victory since Sydney Roosters' 38-0 win over St Helens in 2003 and almost as convincing, as the Sea Eagles revelled in the almost spring-like conditions in Yorkshire - a contrast to the cyclonic conditions that greeted Melbourne Storm a year earlier.

Manly, who came to England as the best prepared Australian side, demonstrated the slick handling and robust defence that accounted for Melbourne Storm in October's NRL grand final.

The Rhinos, hoping to make history by becoming the first team to defend their world crown, were staring at a rout when they trailed 26-4 after 46 minutes. But they rallied with three tries in the final quarter.

They were unfortunate to lose scrum-half Rob Burrow just 16 minutes into his first competitive match since England's World Cup semi-final defeat last November when he was left badly dazed by a crunching tackle from man of the match Anthony Watmough.

Burrow was among seven England internationals hoping to gain some consolation for their World Cup misery, but today's result will serve only to underline Australia's NRL as a superior competition to Super League.

Another bumper sell-out crowd of 32,569 did their best to urge on the Rhinos but spent much of the match venting their fury at the constant intrusion of Manly's water carriers, imparting nothing but tips to their players.

In truth, it was the Super League champions who could have done with some on-field coaching.

The Sea Eagles looked up for the challenge from the kick-off, and any doubt about their serious intent was swiftly removed when Josh Perry came to blows with England captain Jamie Peacock - left-overs from the World Cup, perhaps.

The flurry of punches provoked a mini-brawl and resulted in both the main culprits being sent to the sin bin by Australian referee Jason Robinson.

Leeds clearly felt their loss the most and conceded the game's first try within a minute of the incident, full-back Brett Stewart forcing his way over from close range for the first of his two scores.

That helped the visitors get on a roll, and on seven minutes Matt Orford got the dangerous Watmough striding through a gap for his side's second try.

Orford's second goal made it 12-0, but the Rhinos grabbed themselves a lifeline just before the break when second rower Jamie Jones Buchanan pulled a try back in contentious fashion.

He pounced on a loose ball, after Brett Stewart failed to deal with Sinfield's high kick and got McGuire haring for the line.

Orford belied his 30 years by tracking back to make the tackle on the line and managed to remove the ball from McGuire's grasp - only to see Jones Buchanan follow up to get the precious touch, video referee Steve Ganson confirming the try.

Manly coach Des Hasler was unhappy with the decision but was all smiles after watching his side run in three tries at the start of the second half.

Stewart pounced on an error by makeshift centre Carl Ablett; Watmough finished off a break by winger Michael Robertson, and centre Steve Matai was sent in by impressive substitute Heath L'Estrange.

Leeds looked a well beaten side at that stage but produced a determined spell in the final quarter to regain their pride.

Keith Senior took Ali Lauitiiti's overhead pass to score a deserved try, and willing winger Ryan Hall added another on 72 minutes - with Sinfield kicking his second goal.

Orford kicked a late penalty, but at least the Rhinos had the final say when Senior sent McGuire racing away for another consolation try.