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The second game of the 2015 World Club Series sees the Wigan Warriors, who have played in plenty of World Club Challenges, now get a chance to play in the revamped world club series as they host the Brisbane Broncos, who have also been in their fair share of World Club Challenges. Join The Roar for live coverage of the game from 6:30am (AEDT).
The Wigan Warriors and the Brisbane Broncos are two clubs, that although from different countries, are not strangers to each other. They have faced off in two World Club Challenges before in 1992 and 1994.
In 1992 the game was played at Central Park in Wigan with the Broncos coming out victors 22 points to 8. In 1994, the game was played in Australia at the Broncos former home ground near Mount Gravatt, in Brisbane with the game being won by the Wigan Warriors 20 points to 14. So the ledger between these teams is square at one game a piece and both will be looking to win this one for their country in the revamped World Club Series format.
The Brisbane Broncos have played in three other World Club Challenge games, playing in the unofficial Super League World Club Series in 1997, whilst their other two World Club Challenge games were both trips to England to play against Saint Helens, who are interestingly the team that will play for the main trophy against the South Sydney Rabbitohs this season.
These games were in 2001 and 2007 and the Broncos lost in both. The Wigan Warriors meanwhile have played in a further four World Club Challenge games throughout their history. They played in the 1987 version which was the first to be played in England winning 8-2 against the Manly Sea Eagles, before defeating the Penrith Panthers in 1991 21 points to 4.
After their two games against the Broncos and three World Club Challenge games in a row, the Wigan Warriors weren’t sighted again in the WCC until 2011, when they lost to the St George Illawarra Dragons.
The Wigan Warriors have put a very strong squad forward for the game against the Broncos. Former North Queensland Cowboy Matthew Bowen will play fullback for the Warriors and will be looking for a big performance to make a statement to those watching in Australia that he has still got it.
Wigan winger Joe Burgess, bound for the NRL will be out for a big performance as well. They will be joined by England internationals Josh Charnley, Dan Sarginson, Matt Smith, Liam Farrell and Joel Tomkins. This massive English contingent explains why the Warriors have been so successful in the Super League over the last couple of seasons and why they will prove such a tough opposition for the Broncos.
The Brisbane Broncos, whilst naming a relatively strong side have left some of their best at home in Australia including Matt Gillett, Jack Reed, Dale Copley and Todd Lowrie. Out of the squad they have named for the game, Anthony Milford is undoubtedly going to have a massive roll to play and the result could well come down to how he combines for the Broncos with the likes of Ben Hunt and Justin Hodges.
There is also no doubting for this game that the Broncos forwards are going to need to stand up and put in a big performance led by the likes of Corey Parker and Sam Thaiday.
It is also going to be interesting to see just how serious the Broncos players are and whether they are more concerned about not getting injured or actually beating the Warriors and winning the game.
The key battle of this game is no doubt the battle of the second rows. For Wigan the international combination of Joel Tomkins and Liam Farrell and for the Broncos we see another international back row of Sam Thaiday and Alex Glenn. No doubt that the battle of the second rowers is going to have a massive influence on the way the game pans out.
My Prediction: Wigan to use the home ground advantage and take a close game by 6 points.
Join The Roar from 6:30am (AEDT) on Sunday Morning to follow our coverage of the game and be sure to leave your comments and thoughts as the game unfolds.