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The Brisbane Broncos have gotten their 2016 campaign off to a positive start with a 42-12 victory over the Wigan Warriors.
Despite being on the backfoot early, the Broncos were first to get on the board with Corey Oates just missing the touchline to score a controversial try.
Kodi Nikorima extended the visitors’ lead scoring after Anthony Milford’s kick ricocheted off the post adding further worry to Wigan following an injury to hooker Michael McIlorum.
Liam Farrell lifted the mood for the Warriors five minutes later after sending Dan Sarginson over for a try.
The good mood didn’t last for long with the Warriors conceding two soft tries to Matt Gillett and Jarrod Wallace late in the first half to go into the break 18 points down.
Wigan showed strong signs in the second half however, they crumbled under pressure when deep into the Broncos’ territory eventually resulting in Greg Eden dashing down the field to see Corey Oates score his second try on the following play.
Nikorima was next to go over showing good ball-handling skills after scoring from a Darius Boyd kick. Wigan again were unable to convert scoring opportunities with Greg Eden later putting the nail in the coffin with a length of the field try.
The Broncos were simply too strong, coming away with a 30-point win.
Final score
Wigan Warriors 12
Brisbane Broncos 42
One of the fiercest rivalries in rugby league will be renewed when the Wigan Warriors host the Brisbane Broncos at DW Stadium in the second match of the 2016 World Club Series. Join The Roar from 6:40am (AEDT) for live coverage.
2015 Super League runners-up Wigan have begun the new year in brilliant form that has seen them soar to fourth on the table following an undefeated start to their 2016 campaign.
The Warriors opened their season with a 12-6 victory over the star-studded Catalans Dragons before meeting Huddersfield in Round 2 where they played out yet another close match, prevailing 18-13.
With reigning premiers Leeds having copped huge losses over the opening rounds and Huddersfield enduring a host of injuries, the Warriors have been installed as early favourites to take out the Super League in 2016.
A win over visiting side the Brisbane Broncos could help them to stake their claim with their World Club Series encounter to prove a massive leg-up for the Cherry and Whites.
Shaun Wane and his team will know they need to restrict the Broncos’ strike backline – which features the likes of State of Origin star Darius Boyd, Kiwi international Jordan Kahu and future representative players James Roberts and Corey Oates – if they are to be any chance of winning.
The Brisbane Broncos experienced heartbreak at the final stages of the 2015 NRL season going down at the hands of a Johnathan Thurston field goal in extra time, seeing the Cowboys win their maiden premiership.
They will be determined to prove they will be a premiership heavyweight in 2016 and will no doubt put on a show against bitter rivals Wigan.
Wayne Bennett has sent an all-star squad featuring five State of Origin players and three Kiwi internationals, proving just how serious this concept is for NRL teams.
The Broncos must bring the battle to the front and restrict the Warriors in all positions. They hold a minor advantage in terms of player quality however, it is hard to predict how they will handle the cold, English conditions.
Two new recruits have been included in the Broncos’ 19-man squad with 2015 Dally M Centre of the year James Roberts and troubled Bulldogs prop Herman Ese’ese to make their first major appearances for Brisbane.
The rivalry between Wigan and Brisbane is one of the most passionate in rugby league around the world with the two sides from opposite ends of the globe going head-to-head for the sixth time in their respective histories.
The Warriors have won on just one occasion, with a win in Brisbane 20-14 back in 1994 while the Broncos were victorious in all of their other encounters which included a 1992 World Club Challenge victory in Wigan, two wins during the 1997 World Club Championship and most recently in a highly controversial match during last year’s World Club Series in which they won 14-12 in extra time.
The highlight of the match came during the dying stages of the match with no time remaining on the clock and Corey Parker kicking for a penalty goal to win the game, Cook Islands international Anthony Gelling rushed off the line blocking his shot at goal and resulting in his subsequent sin-binning.
No doubt the high intensity and desire to win should once again carry over into an incredibly close-fought match with plenty of action.
Prediction
Wigan will put up a fight and prove that English rugby league is incredibly tough however, they won’t be able to hold on with the Broncos to run away with the win.
Broncos by four
Join The Roar from 6:40am (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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