2019 World Club Challenge Explained

Year:2019
Betfred World Club Challenge
Home:Wigan Warriors
Away:Sydney Roosters
Home League:Super League
Away League:NRL
Home Abbr:WIG
Away Abbr:SYD
Home Half1:4
Home Half2:4
Home Total:8
Away Half1:14
Away Half2:6
Away Total:20
Date:17 February 2019
Stadium:DW Stadium
Location:Wigan, United Kingdom
Mom Title:Man of the Match
Referee:Robert Hicks
Attendance:21,331
Network: Nine Network
Network2: Sky Sports
Network3: Māori Television
Tournaments:World Club Challenge
Last:2018
Next:2020

The 2019 Betfred World Club Challenge was the 27th staging of the World Club Challenge. It was played on 17 February 2019, and featured Super League champions Wigan Warriors, and NRL winners Sydney Roosters.[1] [2]

This was the second time these two teams had met in the World Club Challenge, with Sydney claiming a 36–14 victory in 2014. Wigan were aiming to extend their record winning total to five wins, whilst Sydney were aiming to equal Wigan's record with their fourth win, as well as keeping their 100% record in the World Club Challenge intact.

Sydney won the match 20–8, thus equalling Wigan's record of 4 wins, and maintaining their 100% record of never losing a world club challenge.[3]

Background

Wigan Warriors

After becoming the first team to win every game in the Super 8s, Wigan finished Super League XXIII's regular season in 2nd place. They went on to beat Castleford Tigers 14–0 in the semi-final, and defeated 4th-placed Warrington Wolves, 12–4, in the Grand Final.

Sydney Roosters

The Roosters finished the 2018 NRL season in 1st place and won the minor premiership. They then went undefeated through the finals series to claim the 2018 Premiership with a 21–6 win in the 2018 NRL Grand Final over the Melbourne Storm.

Teams

[4]

Wigan Warriors!align="center" style="background: #eeeeee; color: black"
PositionSydney Roosters
20. Zak Hardaker1. James Tedesco
2. Tom Davies2. Daniel Tupou
4. Oliver Gildart4. Joseph Manu
3. Dan Sarginson5. Brett Morris
17. Liam Marshall20. Matt Ikuvalu
6. George Williams6. Luke Keary
7. Thomas Leuluai7. Cooper Cronk
8. Tony Clubb8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Sam Powell9. Jake Friend
10. Ben Flower10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Joe Greenwood11. Boyd Cordner (c)
12. Liam Farrell3. Mitchell Aubusson
13. Sean O'Loughlin (c)13. Victor Radley
14. Romain NavarreteInterchange14. Isaac Liu
15. Willie IsaInterchange15. Zane Tetevano
16. Gabe HamlinInterchange16. Lindsay Collins
22. Joe BullockInterchange17. Nat Butcher
Adrian LamCoachTrent Robinson

Notes and References

  1. News: Wigan Warriors host Sydney Roosters in 2019 World Club Challenge . 2 November 2018 . Sky Sports . 9 February 2019.
  2. News: World Club Challenge: Wigan Warriors to host Sydney Roosters . 2 November 2019 . BBC Sport . 9 February 2019.
  3. News: World Club Challenge: Morris Hat Trick helps Sydney Roosters claim a record equalling 4th world club title over Wigan. 17 February 2019. BBC Sport.
  4. News: World Club Challenge: Sydney Roosters Announce Squad For World Club Challenge . 8 February 2019 . NRL.