North Queensland Cowboys ease past Leeds Rhinos in World Club Challenge

North Queensland Cowboys have defeated Leeds Rhinos 38-4 at Headingley to win the World Club Challenge with a 3-0 series triumph.

The Australian National Rugby League side had Michael Morgan, Kane Linnett, Kyle Feldt, Lachlan Coote, Justin O'Neill and Jonathan Thurston to thank for their tries, but an incident late on almost overshadowed the victory.

Leeds forward Mitch Garbutt was dismissed for punching James Tamou, which sparked an ugly altercation between both sets of players.

Rob Burrow had earlier cancelled out Morgan's opener, but it was all rather one-sided in the second period as the Cowboys came out well on top to confirm themselves as the best club side in the world for the first time in their history.

An Australian side has now won each of the last four annual World Club Challenge games.