The Sydney Roosters have started the new season in the same way they finished the last, with more silverware in the trophy cabinet courtesy of some Michael Jennings brilliance.
A Jennings hat-trick spearheaded the Roosters’ 36-14 World Club Challenge win over Wigan on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
The NSW centre, who bagged the premiership-sealing try in last year’s grand final, scored two first-half four-pointers to take the Roosters to an 18-0 halftime lead.
And with the visitors trying desperately to fight back in the second stanza, Jennings scored again to put the Roosters ahead 24-4 at the 49-minute mark after a Joe Burgess try opened Wigan’s account in the 44th minute.
In an exciting, at times error ridden, encounter before 31,515 fans, the Roosters dominated the first half from the outset after Jennings palmed off Josh Charnley and raced 25m to score.
Sam Moa crashed over in the 13th minute after Jake Friend threw a face ball across Jared Waerea-Hargreaves close to the tryline, before Jennings pounced on a loose ball in the in-goal following a Matt Bowen fumble for a three-tries-to-nil lead that remained until the break.
With Wigan gaining more possession in the second half, the game became more of a contest and, after two tries to Charnley, the northerners had bridged the game to 24-14 after 60 minutes.
But the Roosters again took control of the contest to round out the match with tries to Waerea-Hargreaves in the 67th minute and Shaun Kenny-Dowall in the 71st minute.
Eddy Pettybourne was lucky to stay on the field after a high hit on Kenny-Dowall late in the first half, while a late shoulder charge from Michael McIlorum on Mitchell Pearce after a kick earlier in the game could have also resulted in an early shower.
Hoy
Roar Guru
All the commentators were very quick to jump on the unbeatable Roosers for premiers in 2014, and noone else should bother turning up, but the fact is Wigan were terrible. Flat line, shuffling passes on to the next person, who was flatfooted. For 60 minutes they were clueless really, going nowhere.
George
Guest
Wigan are evolving as a new-look side with a big emphasis on youth. They lost four of their big stars after last season and put up a brave performance, at times showing their class, but ultimately they were not able to match the Roosters today. I belive Wigan will get stronger as their domestic season rolls on and I would not be surprised to see them in next year's World Club Challenge, where on today's evidence, they will again meet the Roosters.