Match Result:
The Roosters have won their fourth World Club Championship after downing Wigan 20-8 in the 2019 World Club Challenge at the DW Stadium.
A stunning first-half hat-trick from new signing Brett Morris helped the Roosters claim victory.
Match Preview:
The Wigan Warriors and the Sydney Roosters will lock horns to decide the best club side in the world of rugby league. Join The Roar from 6am AEDT for live scores and a blog of the World Club Challenge.
Super League’s defending champions Wigan will pit their wits against the boys from Bondi on their home turf of the DW Stadium.
The Warriors earned their right by beating Warrington at Old Trafford in the 2018 grand final.
Wigan are gunning for their record fifth World Club Challenge crown. They have more than any other team, English or Australian.
The Warriors will fancy their chances as they are at home and are already two rounds into the Super League season. Two years ago they knocked off Cronulla in the same stadium.
Under new coach Adrian Lam, a Roosters legend, Wigan have had one win and one loss so far in Super League in 2019.
The Warriors and Lam could come up against Lachlan Lam, the Wigan-born son of Adrian, in the Tricolors.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson named a strong 22-man squad to take over to the UK. The only notable star missing is Latrell Mitchell, who played for the Indigenous All Stars on Friday.
Mitch Aubusson is likely to take Mitchell’s centre spot.
The Chooks have a lot of experience of the World Club Challenge and of English conditions, after beating Wigan in the annual northern hemisphere vs southern hemisphere clash at the Sydney Football Stadium in 2014.
They played in the World Club Series against St Helens in 2016, thrashing Saints 38-12 at Langtree Park. The Roosters actually took part in the first-ever World Club Challenge, way back in 1976, when the current NRL champs beat St Helens 25-2.
Robinson and his players are taking this match seriously, hence the extended trip that has seen them train in Paris along the way to Wigan. The likes of Boyd Cordner and Cooper Cronk are relishing the chance to face English opponents again.
Prediction
Wigan might have the advantage of being already into their season, and used to the cold, but the Roosters have too much firepower in James Tedesco, Cooper Cronk, Luke Keary, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and the rest and are taking this game seriously.
The Roosters to win by eight points or more.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from 6am AEDT.
Where: DW Stadium, Wigan
When: 6am AEDT Monday
TV: Gem
Betting: Wigan $2.60, Draw $25, Roosters $1.40
John Davidson
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT The Roosters have won their fourth World Club Championship after downing Wigan 20-8 in the 2019 World Club Challenge at the DW Stadium. A stunning first-half hat-trick from new signing Brett Morris helped the Roosters claim victory. The game had barely kicked off when former Bulldog Morris broke through some soft Wigan defence to score his first try. Six minutes later the centre was in again when freakishly took four Warriors players over the line with him to somehow score. The Roosters had an early 10-0 lead and were in complete control, battering Wigan in both attack and defence. But the Super League champions fought back and Tom Davies dived over in the right hand corner. With big hits coming in from both teams, this match was no pre-season fixture in intensity. In the 32nd minute Morris amazingly grabbed his third try, beating three players on the left edge again to cross. The Roosters could not convert it and poor goal-kicking kept the score to 14-4. In the second half Wigan rose to the occasion and started to wear the NRL champions down. The Warriors’ offloads caused the Roosters some problems and opened space in their defence, but then Sio Sue Taukieho nailed a penalty to make it 16-4. But the English outfit weren’t down yet and Liam Marshall somehow managed to control a wild cut-out pass at his feet to score acrobatically in the corner. With 15 minutes left the lead was cut to 16-8. Wigan searched in vain for another try to put more pressure on, but it was the Roosters who found the nail in the coffin with four minutes left. Luke Keary launched a bomb to the wing and Daniel Tupou soared high for the final try of the evening.
Renegade
Roar Guru
That was a quality game, well done to the roosters.
John Davidson
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Roosters have won the World Club Challenge. An absorbing and entertaining battle at the DW Stadium in Wigan. A great fightback in the second half from the Warriors, but just too much in the tank and too much firepower by the Chooks. Wigan 8 Roosters 20
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’79 Brett Morris man of the match? Wigan 8 Roosters 20
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’78 Taukieho can’t add the extras from the sideline. Props who kick eh… Wigan 8 Roosters 20
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’77 Wigan have battled hard and been very brave, but the Roosters just a class above. Wigan 8 Roosters 20
John Davidson
Roar Guru
TRY ROOSTERS! Tupou leaps high in the corner and scores off a Keary kick! That is the match-winner. Wigan 8 Roosters 20
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’75 Roosters earn another repeat set after a lovely little grubber in the in-goal from Luke Keary. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’74 Wigan spin it wide but Sarginson’s offload goes into touch. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’73 Wigan get the ball back from the dropout with a short kick! Excellent work. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’73 A Cronk bomb causes real confusion in the Wigan in-goal, and the Roosters have forced a dropout. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’71 So close! Gildart almost gets the ball from a kick for a try. Very close. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’71 Both teams playing for field position now. Wigan have been great this second half and the Roosters are tiring. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’70 If Wigan score next we are in for a fantastic finish. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’69 O’Loughlin tries a little grubber and regather, but Cronk dives on it. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’67 Ikavalu has been forced in-goal. Quality kick chase from Wigan. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’65 Hardaker has missed the kick from the sideline. Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
TRY WIGAN! An outstanding pick-up and try from Marshall. Game on! Wigan 8 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’64 A repeat set for Wigan. A cut-out pass from Williams and Marshall is in! But is it a try! Video ref will check… Wigan 4 Roosters 16
John Davidson
Roar Guru
’64 Wigan on the attack. They win a penalty and they’re 20 metres from the Roosters line. Can they grab a try and put the pressure on? Wigan 4 Roosters 16