World Club Series Game 1 preview: Warrington Wolves vs St George Illawarra Dragons

The Dragons won 21–15 over the Wigan Warriors on their last trip to England for the World Club Challenge in 2011. But that year they were the NRL grand final winners, rather than 11th placed.

The Warrington Wolves are coming off two first-up wins. The Wolves were third placed last year and apparently have a grudge to settle after the Dragons caused some offence while Warrington were visiting Australia in last year’s preseason.

The Dragons have named a strong team which looks like it is currently coach McGregor’s preferred opening NRL round selection, apart from ex-Wolves forward Mike Cooper not playing due to paternity leave.

Dragons squad
1. Josh Dugan, 2. Eto Nabuli, 3. Euan Aitken , 4. Peter Mata’utia, 5. Jason Nightingale, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Benji Marshall, 8. Rory O’Brien, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Leeson Ah Mau, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Joel Thompson, 13. Ben Creagh (c) Bench: 14. Trent Merrin, 15. Jack de Belin , 16. Heath L’Estrange, 17. George Rose,

Travelling reserves: 18. Dane Nielsen, 19. Dylan Farrell, 20. Jake Marketo

The Wolves will be keen to test out the Dragons’ left flank, where the relatively inexperienced winger Nabuli and under-20s player centre Aitken have been selected, with some more experienced players available in the travelling reserves.

Nabuli is more than tall enough to handle any bombs and a very capable attacking player (30 tries last season). But question marks hang over Aitken who faces the Wolves Joel Monaghan (ex-Raiders) in the centres.

The Wolves may also use starting prop Ashton Sims and bench prop Roy Asotasi to test out new Dragons prop Rory O’Brien in the opening exchanges, given that he has no NRL experience. But O’Brien is solid and mobile and I expect him to be up to the test.

The Dragons forwards, with a few additions, is essentially the same pack that was labeled ‘soft’ last year and led to so many tries up the middle of the field, so Wolves will be sure to test this out.

Also labeled as soft by many when bought by the Dragons this year is bench prop, veteran prop George Rose, who is fresh from a surprise man of the match performance in the Indigenous All Stars match.

Dragons coach McGregor has adopted a new defensive pattern in the off season, which seemed to work against the Rabbitohs in the Charity Shield earlier this month.

The key to the Dragon’s attack lies in halves pairing Benji Marshall and English international Gareth Widdop, with Benji in sensational preseason form for his first full year with the Dragons. Benji has also developed a good combination with big Fijian winger Nabuli, and has a growing combination with Welsh international second rower Fizzel and Samoan international prop Leeson Ah Mau.

Wolves coach Tony Smith, an ex-Dragons player himself, has been talking up the grudge factor arising from the visit to the Dragons, in a game which will see many former teammates on opposing sides.

Ashton Sims, a Dragons junior, faces his former teammate and best man Ben Creagh, the Dragons captain. Sims said, “We kick it off on Friday and it’s going to be explosive.”

Wolves captain Monaghan will be coming up against some old friends, too. “I can’t wait,” he said. “Josh Dugan, Joel Thompson are ex-teammates at Canberra Raiders, while Paul McGregor was my coach for Country origin.”

Wolves hooker Mickey Higham is more serious: “It is a grand final for us this game. It is an England versus Australia club final as far as we’re concerned and we want to get England off to a good start, tick our box and put England 1-0 ahead.”

The Dragons are more relaxed in their approach to the game, and I am tipping them to win well unless the Wolves’ pack use the grudge factor to unsettle the Dragons.

For the Dragons the game plan is a simple one based on defence and control of the ball, with patience in attack and knowledge that Benji can pull something out of his hat if the need arises.