The Warrington Wolves have recorded the English Super League’s first victory in the new World Club Series format after two years of trying, putting on a dominant display to get the better of the Brisbane Broncos by nine points.
Final score
Warrington Wolves 27
Brisbane Broncos 18
The World Club Series might be down to two matches, but there is still plenty on the line for the Warrington Wolves when they host the Brisbane Broncos. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7am (AEDT).
At the end of the 2016 Super League season, the Wolves were top of the table, and went on to beat St Helens in the semi-final, but couldn’t get over the top of the Wigan Warriors in the big dance.
As for the Broncos, this match came about after every other top eight team in the NRL rejected a trip to England.
For Australian fans, there is plenty of ex-NRL talent at Warrington. Former Newcastle veteran Kurt Gidley has locked down a consistent spot in the halves, keeping Chris Sandow on the bench for much of last year – although Sandow is no longer at the club.
Another who has done a strong job for the Wolves is Ashton Sims, while Mike Cooper joins the squad this season and for this match.
Warrington got their Super League season off to a slow start last weekend though, going down 20-12 to the Catalans Dragons.
Despite having Ryan Atkins in the centres and a strong spine that included Gidley, Matty Russell, Declan Patton and Daryl Clark, their defence wasn’t good enough and they never really got into the match.
The Broncos have taken a reasonable squad halfway across the world for a match that essentially is exhibition for them.
Darius Boyd and Ben Hunt will lead the attack, with Hunt looking for a much stronger 2017 and Boyd keen to get his captaincy at the club off to a good start.
Andrew McCullogh will play hooker, while Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn and Sam Thaiday lead a forward pack with plenty of talent. Exciting youngsters Joe Ofahengaue, Tevita Pangai Junior, Jai Arrow and Jayden Su’A will all benefit from the trip, while David Mead and James Roberts will be aiming to put on plenty of points out wide.
Brisbane have plenty of attacking flare and appear to be taking this game seriously, unlike their last visit in 2015, when they beat Wigan in extra time.
If Warrington’s defence is anything like it was in the first game of the season, this could get ugly.
Prediction
The Broncos will continue the NRL’s run of dominance in the World Club Series and record a heavy win.
Broncos by 16.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this World Club Series match from 7am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Did you see how well Warrington played?
David
Guest
Does anyone else think that the broncos could be a sneaky tip for the spoon? It does not get any worse than losing to an English team and tells me that their a long way off being ready for the NRL season.
Sport lover
Guest
Yeah I would write off Brisbane on one performance. Rolls eyes.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Warrington played their game, remained focused and got the job done. Brisbane were forced into too many errors and some of their players looked out of sorts. But Warrington deserved that victory. They had several regular first graders out including their captain Hill. They forced Brisbane onto the back foot and then held on whenever they took their foot off the accelerator. I've noticed that already people here are finding ways to diminish their victory with comments about what was the point of the match and Brisbane not being a top-8 side this year etc. When a Super League club loses to a non-top 8 NRL side, it's not good enough but when they win it's still not good enough. Instead of celebrating an excellent result for an excellent concept for the code, all we get is village-level patronising. Ridiculous... Good luck to both Wigan and Cronulla tomorrow and may the best team win.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Shame he's 32 years old.
Paul
Guest
One thing is now absolutely certain. Gareth Widdop's international career is over. The 5/8 for Warrington is a far superior player.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That wraps up The Roar's live coverage of the first match in the 2017 World Club Series as the Warrington Wolves picked up the win over the Brisbane Broncos. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back tomorrow morning at Stupid O'Clock (2am AEDT) for our live coverage of the Wigan Warriors vs Cronulla Sharks match so be sure to join me then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fulltime The Warrington Wolves have recorded the English Super League's first victory in the new World Club Series format after two years of trying, putting on a dominant display to get the better of the Brisbane Broncos by nine points. It was a physical encounter, but the game was realistically over at the halftime break as Warrington played at a cracking pace during the first half, blowing the Broncos off the park. Kevin Brown, making his club debut was the key man all game long for the Wolves, but it was hard to find a bad player on the park for the Super League and Challenge Cup runner-up. Declan Patton was also strong in the halves, while Kurt Gidley took to a last minute change to fullback like a duck to water in a fantastic display. If Brown was th architect of the match, then Mike Cooper and Ashton Sims were the enforcers. Both played a little over 50 minutes and made every one of them count, regularly popping up for runs and causing the Broncos defensive line headaches. The Broncos let themselves down throughout the game though, with an uncharacteristically large amount of errors and a lot of soft defence allowing early tries. It was hard to pinpoint a standout for the Broncos, although Darius Boyd had a good game at the back, Corey Oates barely put a foot wrong and Josh McGuire was strong running the ball. The scoring got underway on a lucky note and even though it was only the second minute, it still looked against the run of play. A charge down as the Broncos went on their first – and one of their only attacking raids of the half saw Joe Westerman take off up field before Kevin Brown crashed over from dummy half. A penalty goal then extended the lead outside a penalty goal before some lovely work from Darryl Clark and Brown sent Atkins over out wide. The third try came just a few minutes later, Brown again involved as he found Matty Russell out wide who stepped around some weak defence to score, sending Warrington up 20-0 and back ahead of the clock. The game finally started to even up and the Broncos made the most of getting into the grind, with a lovely chip kick from Andrew McCullogh setting up Corey Oates for a try in the corner. Warrington extended their lead on the halftime bell though as Tom Lineham crashed over in the corner with some very smart work out of dummy half to beat some poor defence. At halftime, Warrington held a 24-6 lead and were running away with the contest. Brisbane needed an attitude change on the other side of the break, and early on it looked like they had it, racing out of the line and doing everything they could in defence. It took just four minutes for them to put a try on the board as James Roberts bolted straight through the line from a scrum, running 90 metres to score. Defence and physicality controlled the next stanza of the game, but it felt as if Warrington were working their way back on top of the contest, controlling more of the ball and having the better field position. A couple of flare ups came, with punches thrown. No one was sent to the sinbin, but Mike Cooper and James Roberts were probably very lucky to remain on the field. From a penalty though, Warrington were able to work their way up the field and from nowhere, standing in the line with no setup, Declan Patton snapped a field goal to increase the lead to 13. Back on the attack and with another penalty, the Wolves would extend the lead to 15 with a penalty goal going over just 14 minutes from the final bell. The Broncos had enough opportunities towards the end of the game and got themselves one try as David Mead managed to cross from a kick, but they squandered the rest with dropped balls and errors trying to force passes in the face of a strong Warrington defence. In the end, Warrington with a strong win to get the English Super League on the board for the first time in three years. Final Score Warrington Wolves 27 Brisbane Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full match report to come shortly.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I guess the best news Brisbane can take out of the game is no inuries.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Broncos will only have a single play and they can't make anything happen out wide, Roberts eventually tackled. It's been a commanding performance from Warrington as the siren sounds, and the English Super League have their first victory in the World Club Series format. Warrington Wolves 27 Brisbane Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Into the final 60 seconds now and Savallio comes to halfway on the third play. Dwyer takes off down the right before Westwood also has a run. Patton kicks it across the sideline and for some unbeknown reason, the Broncos stop the clock with three seconds left. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Broncos working it to halfway, but going nowhere in the set before a bomb goes up and Gidley makes the catch. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Dwyer gets a bit rattled in a tackle on halfway for Warrington now before the forwards come through the middle, Evans also getting involved. Dwyer a second run and then a kick into the corner. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - The Broncos spend a few tackles going through the motions before McGuire with a break, then Milford looking dangerous. Hunt with a kick on the last and Oates is there, but great scramble defence from Gidley forces him to drop it. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Good set from Warrington and Brown kicks it over the sideline in the corner with a little chip. Looks as if there is very little drama left in this one. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Kahu with a run through the middle before Oates comes in for one of his own. Over halfway through the forwards before they look to run it on the last and it's spilt. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - Good work from Russell off the scrum here as he bounces off a couple of tackles and picks up 15 or so metres. The forwards try to work it through the middle, a good run coming from Clark before Cooper goes to halfway. Westerman with his second carry in the set before a kick goes into the corner and Milford is there to do the work. Wolves 27 Broncos 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Broncos start this set 30 metres out then and it's Gillett to bring it forward before they come left. That sums up the evening for Brisbane though as a pass goes over the sideline, looking for Oates. Absolute shocker. Wolves 27 Broncos 18