The Wigan Warriors have taken out the World Club Challenge, completing a clean sweep for the English Super League with a 16-point victory over the Cronulla Sharks at a packed DW Stadium.
Final score
Wigan Warriors 22
Cronulla Sharks 6
The title of best team in the world goes on the line at DW Stadium, with NRL Premiers the Cronulla Sharks entering as a short priced favourite to get over Super League champions the Wigan Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2am (AEDT).
The Warriors were once again the best in the Super League, taking out the championship in a low scoring grand final victory over the Warrington Wolves.
Warrington, who played Brisbane yesterday might have more talent from the NRL, but the Warriors have proven themselves as a source of consistency over the last seven years, finishing at the top and winning three premierships in that time period.
Despite that, the Warriors have been involved in the last three world club series, losing both times to the Brisbane Broncos, while their 2011 and 2014 attempts brought little success.
The Wigan squad is led by lock and skipper Sean O’Loghlin, who has almost 400 matches to his name and is still undoubtedly one of the best players in the ESL.
He is joined by Thomas Leulali who forms a solid halves combination with George Williams who continues to gain experience. Their combination with fullback Morgan Escare and hooker Sam Powell will be pivotal.
Maybe the biggest challenge for Wigan though is to get the forward pack victory and if it’s to happen, then Frank Paul Nuuausala and Ben Flower will need to lead the way.
The Warriors will be without superstar fullback Sam Tomkins for the match though, so if they manage to overcome that then they will certainly have done things the hard way.
The Sharks, on the other hand came from the depths to win their first NRL premiership after 50 years of trying last season and will be looking to continue Australia’s dominance in this competition.
Cronulla appear to be at something nearing on full strength for their trip to the United Kingdom, with Chad Townsend and James Maloney both named.
Like Wigan, they are missing a fullback with Ben Barba suspended over the off-season – not that the likely replacement, Jack Bird is a bad option.
The combination those three have with the hooker – whether that be Holden Cup player of the year Jayden Brailey, newly signed Daniel Mortimer or returning from injury Fa’amanu Brown will be key to the running of this game because a full firing Cronulla attack is unlikely to be contained.
Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen will lead the forward pack for Cronulla which was so pivotal for them to win the grand final, once again highlighting the battle for the Warriors in containing them.
Prediction
The Sharks have the better squad on paper, but the game isn’t played on paper. Sam Tomkins being out is a major blow for Wigan, but this one will be closer than a lot of people think.
Sharks by 2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the World Club Challenge from 2am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Rob
Guest
You are very biased Rene. The Sharks are a very average team without the Ref's help.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
They showed that kind of defence last year too. They started the season terribly and I honestly thought they wouldn't even make the finals but they dug in and fought it out until they held up the trophy. A very committed bunch of players in this Wigan team and it showed again against Cronulla. I was always expecting them to ease up a little and Cronulla to strike then but it never really happened. Their performance was 'NRL-like'. Intensity until the end. Good on them too and good on Brisbane and Cronulla for embracing the concept.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that wraps up The Roar's live coverage of the 2017 World Club Series as the Wigan Warriors beat the Cronulla Sharks in the pivotal game. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back from midday (AEDT) for the NBA All-Stars game, so be sure to join me then. Remember, The Roar will have live coverage of every game throughout the NRL Season, which kicks off on Thursday March 2 with the Cronulla Sharks hosting the Brisbane Broncos. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers Renegade! Only 2 weeks to the start of the season! I think i'm headed that way as well. Too bloody early for this!
Scott Pryde
Expert
The refereeing was ordinary to say the least. Beale was fantastic at the back I thought and yep - Brailey has had huge wraps on him and showed why today. He won't be Michael Ennis, but he is going to do a solid job for Cronulla. Big weekend for the Super League.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Wigan Warriors have taken out the World Club Challenge, completing a clean sweep for the English Super League with an 16 point victory over the Cronulla Sharks at a packed DW Stadium. After the Warrington Wolves picked up a victory yesterday over the Brisbane Broncos, the Warriors were the better side in the big match. Unfortunately, the game won't be remembered for the performance from Wigan, which was physical as they beat the Sharks at their own game, but the poor refereeing display. While criticism is able to be dished out at a whim, Shane Flanagan didn't hold back in his post game interview, saying he thought it was 'awful' which, watching the game it was hard to disagree with. Robert Hicks led a slow game with a lot of penalties and a mountain of inconsistent decisions which didn't do the game any justice. Nonetheless, the Warriors were the better team on the day and outplayed the Cronulla, with a Joe Burgess double getting them off to a strong start in the first half. Their forwards had the better of the contest, with the second row combination of John Bateman and Liam Farrell doing a really solid job in slowing the Sharks down and getting the Warriors out of some tricky attacking situations. Joel Tomkins was also strong from the bench, while George Williams and Thomas Leulali led the team arounnd the park beautifully. The Sharks were, in a lot of ways their own worst enemy with constant errors and a lot of dumb plays both in attack and defence. A lack of match conditioning showed, as did not having Ben Barba and Valentine Holmes on the field, although Gerard Beale who filled in at fullback was probably their best. James Maloney and Chad Townsend struggled to inject themselves into the game, although Maloney did perform reasonably in the second half. The first try for Burgess came in just the fourth minute as Oliver Gildart fired a pass outside at the last second, Burgess diving over in the corner with his body completely suspended outside the field of play. The next try came in the 22nd minute, with Burgess getting the ball a little further from the line, about ten metres out with Sam Powell slicing his way through the line from dummy half. Burgess then stepped inside, beat a tackle and crashed over for a fairly soft try. At halftime, the Warriors had a 10-0 shutout underway and weren't looking like giving that up. The Sharks blew an opportunity at the start of the second half with Fa'amanu Brown decided to put a grubber through with a four on two out wide, and they would be made to pay moments later. Following a high tackle from James Maloney, the Warriors would quickly spread it left on the attack, with Escare finding Gildart for the try that ultimately sent the Sharks too far behind. The game continued to be physical, with the Sharks trying to increase the pace but struggling to achieve it, eventually getting themselves on the scoreboard just a few minutes after forcing a scrum through Jesse Raimen, who crossed off a smart grubber kick from Gerard Beale. That woud prove to be the end of the scoring for the Sharks though, with a final nail in the coffin from Joe Burgess, who completed his hat-trick on the last play of the game off a grubber kick. In the end, Wigan too strong for Cronulla in the world club challenge. Wigan Warriors 22 Cronulla Sharks 6
Renegade
Roar Guru
Good call Scotty ? Back to bed for me.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Well done Wigan, they were the better side in the end. Super league ref was woeful though.... that's the slowest game I've ever seen the Sharks be involved in. Sharkies weren't really allowed to play but Beale did a good job at the back covering for Holmes. Young Brailey looks good and should make the 9 jersey his own which excites me for the back end of the year when his got a decent amount of games under his belt. Forwards were good but frustration got the better of them in the end.... ball control was really poor though overall. Anyways looks like super league have done the clean sweep this year, good on them!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers? A full report will follow shortly.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, the Warriors were the better side and they will lift the World Club Challenge. A big weekend for the Super League. Wigan Warriors 22 Cronulla Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by SAM POWELL Warriors 22 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - TRY WARRIORS, JOE BURGESS Farrell with the first run and he is taken about 10 metres out. They immediately come left and Williams has put the kick in on a grubber. It's sat up nicely and Burgess might have a hat-trick. It's gone up as a no try and with offside the ruling, the camera angles won't be able to overturn the offisde ruling I don't think. The grounding was good - and a try is going to come up. Well, that's a little dumbfounding given it went upstairs as a no try, but none of it matters. The siren goes and all that's left is a conversion and the lifting of the trophy. Warriors 20 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Bateman brings it through the middle before Escare has a run. Into the middle and Sutton almost finds a hole in the line. Left they come and Tomkins goes inside for Williams who drifts across the line and is taken. Bateman goes from dummy half but can't find a way through. Last play and Leuluai grubbers, off a Cronulla player and over the sideline. It doesn't really matter at this point but Wigan will have the scrum feed. Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Sharks immediately shift left from the scrum and Bird is taken out there before Gallen brings it back towards the middle. Now an error and that'll be all she wrote. 2 minutes to go. Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Not too much drama left in this one now. Wigan hang onto the ball and they probably win it from here. Up to halfway on the fourth through Tomkins and then Bateman. Leuluai has kicked over the sideline and been hit hard by Prior. Nothing in it - wasn't late and wasn't high. Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - The Sharks with it through Capewell and then Gallen shifts it on for Townsend and Lewis with Bird taken just over halfway. The Sharks with it through Gallen up the middle before Maloney almost makes a break. Left through Leutele now who evades one but not a second. Maloney on the last and he kicks for the corner, but a great take from Burgess and he takes off with a big run. Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Warriors start this set 10 short of halfway and no one wanted to take that first set. Sutton gets hit hard in the tackle before Clubb is taken on halfway. Bateman runs back across the ruck before Gelling knocks it on in the tackle. Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - It'll be a Wigan penalty for the high shot. Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - The Warriors bring it away from the scrum and Gelling is driven back in a tackle, offloading and Graham has come through with a big hit. Emotions spilling over here and this may be a brutal last six minutes. Push and shove and Fifita really having a go here. He has thrown a punch I think at possibly Clubb. Hicks took a long while to get that under control Warriors 16 Sharks 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - The Sharks at halfway on the first play through Prior before Fifita runs to the right and picks up a solid 20 or so metres. A pass towards Capewell is touched by Wigan so it's six again. The Sharks inside 20 on the second play through Gallen before they come right through Prior and they flick it out the back, Fifita switching from left to right and he is held under the sticks, knocking it on in the play the ball. Warriors 16 Sharks 6