World Club Challenge, Charity Shield previews

The lead-up to the NRL season continues this weekend, with the Roosters taking on Wigan for the title of greatest rugby league club in the game, while the Rabbitohs and Dragons will battle for pride and charity in the annual Charity Shield.

World Club Challenge
Sydney Roosters v Wigan Warriors
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Saturday 8pm

Roosters: Anthony Minichiello (c), Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Aidan Guerra, Dylan Napa, Remi Casty, Kane Evans, Taane Milne, Kurt Kara

Wigan: John Bateman, Matty Bowen, Joe Burgess, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Gil Dudson, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Darrell Goulding, Blake Green, Jack Hughes, Michael McIlorum, Sean O’Loughlin, Eddy Pettybourne, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Scott Taylor

Wigan have prepared for the World Club Challenge with the season opener Super League 24-8 loss to Huddersfield, and a warm-up match in Hamilton, New Zealand against a New Zealand Warriors side which was heavily depleted due to the Auckland Nines tournament.

Wigan won the match at Waikato Stadium 46-22.

For the Roosters, 10 members of the grand final-winning side played in a pre-season trial on Saturday in Wyong against a mostly inexperienced Newcastle, who were committed heavily to the Nines tournament. The Roosters cruised to a 32-4 victory.

At the Nines for the Roosters, Mitchell Pearce, Jake Friend and Daniel Tupou were in action, but any chances of Brad Fittler making a further comeback to league in the WCC was foiled by a hip flexor injury which sidelined him on the second day of the Nines.

NSW and Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was another absentee from final day of the Nines but will play in Saturday’s World Club Challenge against Wigan with a slight leg cork.

Wigan have announced that utility Sam Powell is out injured.

There is bound to be plenty of interest in this match, with the Roosters seemingly giving up on the Nines in favour of concentrating on the WCC.

With his knowledge of Wigan, Steve McNamara, former England coach and Roosters assistant coach, may be the Roosters’ not-so-secret weapon and is quoted as saying “I’m 100% Rooster and 100% behind helping the team beat Wigan”.

This is not the same Wigan that won a rare grand final and Challenge Cup double last year, with the team losing four of their most influencial stars in Sam Tomkins, Pat Richards and Lee Mossop moved to the NRL, while Harrison Hansen was tempted by the big bucks of Salford.

I tip a big win for the Roosters.

Charity Shield
Dragons v Rabbitohs
WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Saturday 5pm

Dragons: Josh Dugan, Brett Morris, Gerard Beale, Dylan Farrell, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Sam Williams, Jack de Belin, Mitch Rein, Ben Creagh (c), Joel Thompson, Leeson Ah Mau, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Kyle Stanley, Jack Stockwell, Mike Cooper, Bronson Harrison, Tyson Frizell, Dan Hunt.

Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Beau Champion, Bryson Goodwin, Lote Tuqiri, Dylan Walker, Adam Reynolds, George Burgess, Issac Luke, Sam Burgess, Ben Te’o, Chris McQueen, John Sutton (c), Apisai Koroisau, Dave Tyrrell, Thomas Burgess, Luke Burgess, Ben Lowe, Joe Picker, Joel Reddy, Kyle Turner, Alex Johnston, Kirisome Auva’a, Nathaniel Neale.

The key to this match may well be in the forwards, with Souths’ giant pack up against the Dragons younger and lighter pack.

It is a shame we did not see what the Burgess brothers could do at the Nines, but they will certainly provide a stiff test for the Dragons pack.

The Dragons pack has a lot to learn this year and the Charity Shield will be the start. It will be interesting to see how Trent Merrin goes in his new, self-proclaimed role as the team’s enforcer, but he is well aware he still has work to do and this may not be the right game.

If the Dragons forwards are not up to the Rabbitohs, will be how the new Dragons halves pairing of Widdop and Williams will compete against Souths’ new pairing of Reynolds and Walker. The result may cement a pairing for the season for either or both.

Widdop showed lots for England in the World Cup and Gareth is anticipating a “fiery and physical” match. If the Dragons halves can get the ball to their wingers, and particularly Morris or fullback Dugan, then there may be some hope for the Dragons.

Sam Williams, formerly with the Raiders, gets his chance at half with Chase Stanley on the interchange bench. Centre Charly Runciman has been surprisingly omitted, with Gerard Beale and Dylan Farrell being preferred.

The Nines injury to South’s five-eighth Kearney has thrown Michael Maguire’s plans to start the year with a new-look halves combination into disarray, leaving the Rabbitohs coach on the search for a halves partner for Adam Reynolds, which will presumably be on show in this game.

South Sydney’s Dylan Walker showed real attacking skills in the Nines and deserves his place in the side.

Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire has vowed code-hopping superstar Sam Burgess won’t be treated as an outcast in his final year in the NRL and I am expecting Sam to use the Charity Shield to demonstrate he will be in it to win and not to show opposing teams any charity in his remaining games with Souths.

I am tripping the South pack to steam roll over the Dragons for a big win.