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A fired-up Wigan will be out to continue Super League’s dominance over the NRL in the World Club Challenge on Saturday.
The Super League champs have been down under for nearly two weeks in preparation for facing the Roosters. They have already started their season with a loss to Huddersfield, and followed that up with a resounding 46-22 trial win over the New Zealand Warriors.
They have also already played several trial matches already in the UK. Wigan trained with South Sydney this week and will be primed for Saturday night’s game.
Historically, Super League clubs have just had the wood over the NRL’s grand final winners in the World Club Challenge since the event was last played in Australia in 1994.
In that game, Wigan upset the Brisbane Broncos 20-14 in front of a bumper crowd at ANZ Stadium.
Since then the World Club Challenge has been played 14 times for nine English wins and six Australian victories. All of these games have been played in the UK.
Home advantage undoubtedly plays a big part. An NRL side playing in freezing UK conditions in January and February, right in the middle of pre-season, is a big ask.
The Super League teams are at home and have often already started their regular seasons.
From the NRL point of view the World Club Challenge has often been seen as a bit of an annoyance, something that gets in the way of their upcoming NRL campaign and is largely irrelevant.
A win in Round 1 of the NRL season has been seen as having more value by many Aussie sides.
But on the other side of the fence, the Super League teams want to win the World Club Challenge badly. It is a source of pride.
Australia is the undisputed top dog of rugby league internationally, and the NRL the stronger competition, but this event gives English footy the chance to secure some pride and gain some honour. They take it very seriously.
This shows in the fact that Wigan were happy to travel to Australia to take on the Roosters. An even bigger scalp for them is possible.
Wigan won the grand final and the Challenge Cup last year and are a talented side.
In Shaun Wane they have a talented and upcoming coach who is working wonders.
After taking over from Michael Maguire in October 2011, he has maintained the Warriors high standards.
Wigan beat Warrington in the grand final after finishing fourth, the first time a team had finished in fourth place and gone all the way.
They will meet the Roosters without star trio Sam Tomkins, Pat Richards and Lee Mossop, who are now all in the NRL with New Zealand, Wests Tigers and Parramatta respectively.
They have also lost Harrison Hansen to Salford and their utility Sam Powell will miss the match with injury.
However, they won’t be easybeats.
They have signed Matty Bowen and Eddy Pettybourne from the NRL and Tony Clubb and Dan Sarginson from London.
Bowen can still do the business and this probably will be his last game on Australian soil. He will be out to make it a special one.
Wigan have weapons across the park – try-machine Josh Charnley is wanted by NRL clubs, Sean O’Loughlin is an experienced colossus in the pack, Michael McIllorum and Logan Tomkins are a great one-two punch at hooker, and Blake Green and Matty Smith give the Warriors direction in the halves.
Wigan aren’t in Australia for a holiday, some sun and surf, they are here to win and make history. They are also bringing 3000 loud and noisy supporters with them.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will know this. Before heading to Bondi he was in charge of the Catalans Dragons and came across the Warriors several times.
Robinson will know intimately what the Super League champs can do and their player strengths and weaknesses. New Roosters signings Heath L’Estrange and Remi Casty, who have joined from Bradford and Catalans, will also be familiar with them.
Wigan will be hoping to catch the Tricolours underdone after the NRL Nines in Auckland and a trial game on the Central Coast.
With the World Club Challenge in Australia for the first time in 20 years, taking place at the Roosters own home ground at Allianz Stadium, Nick Politis’ men will have their own motivation.
A loss will not be how they want to start their 2014 campaign. This World Club Challenge bodes to be the most interesting one in years.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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