St Helens became rugby league's world champions with a surprise victory over the hotly tipped Brisbane Broncos.

The Saints fought back from 18-6 down to record a 20-18 win in the World Club Challenge.

In doing so, Saints became only the third British team to win the title.

The Broncos, who left 30-degree temperatures when they flew out of Queensland a week ago, were forced to endure a snowstorm midway through the second half.

But that was nothing compared to the whirlwind that hit them from the Super League champions.

Video umpire called on

The win was sealed by two late drop goals from Paul Sculthorpe and the heroic Sean Long, but it was undeniably deserved.

Saints dominated much of the first half and maintained their focus despite conceding a soft early try against the run of play.

Shaun Berrigan managed to wriggle past full-back Paul Wellens to touch down after Chris Joynt seemed to have snuffed out the danger.

Berrigan got the benefit of the doubt from the video umpire on that occasion, but lost out in first-half injury time when the official ruled he had grounded the ball short of the line.

Brisbane's other first-half try was more clear-cut, loose forward Phillip Lee touching down after 30 minutes following some neat passing by Berrigan, Priddis and substitute Brad Meyers.

Tension reaches fever point

When the impressive Meyers took Gorden Tallis' pass and stretched out for the Broncos' third try just three minutes after the break, Saints' challenge looked at an end.

But the score served only to spur Ian Millward's men into producing their best rugby of the match.

And Long brought them back into the match when he took Tommy Martyn's accurate pass to dive over for a crucial try.

Three minutes later, Saints drew level when Paul Newlove beat Wendell Sailor with a delightful sidestep and raced clear to send the supporting Joynt over.

As the tension reached fever point and both sides mounted a push for victory, Newlove and Martyn both went close to grabbing interception tries.

But then Saints cleverly laid the ball back for Sculthorpe to slot the winning drop goal between the posts.

It was Sculthorpe who scored Saints' opening try on 18 minutes with aid of Long, who wound up the scoring with a second drop goal a minute from the end.