The 2019 World Club Challenge will see the most successful team in the history of the competition take on the side with the second-most victories when the Wigan Warriors and Sydney Roosters do battle at DW Stadium.
Former Rooster Adrian Liam, now head coach of the Warriors, will be out to put a stop to his former club’s quest to match Wigan’s record of four victories. Sitting in eighth place in the Betfred Super League after two rounds, with one win and a loss, a victory for the Warriors will do no harm to their confidence going forward after a mixed beginning to their season.
Although Wigan have yet to formalise their official 17-man squad, it will be a formidable lineup which will likely include Test skipper Sean O’Loughlin, ex-Panther and Test regular Zak Hardaker, former New Zealand test representative Thomas Leuluai, Taulima Tautai, former Panthers playmaker Jarrod Sammut, ex-Storm centre Willie Isa, former Rooster Joe Burgess, ex-Titans Joe Greenwood and Dan Sarginson, as well as Test pivot George Williams.
The Roosters, meanwhile, will open their campaign with the traditional fixture in England, and will undoubtedly take confidence from their last clash against Wigan in the 2014 edition of the World Club Challenge, which they won handsomely to the tune of 36-14. This year, however, they will not be aided by the home team advantage – as they were in 2014 – given that this year’s contest will be played in front of vocal supporters on Wigan’s home turf.
Australia have notoriously struggled in World Club Challenge fixtures played on English soil, with only three NRL teams winning the match from 2000-09, during which time it was played overseas each year. Recent years have seen an upswing in the fortunes of Australian clubs. The Roosters will be looking to continue that trend in 2019.
While the tricolours are undefeated in World Club Challenge matches, they will face a significant challenge against a Wigan side who have already begun their season, and will also not be worn down by extensive travel; for these reasons, look for a Wigan Warriors victory by a margin of one to 12 points.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Head to head: Roosters 1-0
Previous result: Roosters 36 def Wigan 14 at Allianz Stadium in 2014
Televised: Monday, February 18, 6.05am (AEDT) live on Gem, Fox League & NRL Live Pass.
Roosters squad
Mitchell Aubusson, Nat Butcher, Lindsay Collins, Boyd Cordner (c), Angus Crichton, Cooper Cronk, Poasa Faamausili, Jake Friend (c), Ryan Hall, Matt Ikuvalu, Luke Keary, Asu Kepaoa, Lachlan Lam, Isaac Liu, Joseph Manu, Brett Morris, Victor Radley, Siosiua Taukeiaho, James Tedesco, Zane Tetevano, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Warriors squad
To be announced
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