2019 World Club Challenge

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]

2019 Betfred World Club Challenge
Wigan Warriors Sydney Roosters (Super League) (NRL) 8 20
1 2 Total WIG 4 4 8 SYD 14 6 20
Date	17 February 2019
Stadium	DW Stadium[1]
Location	Wigan, United Kingdom[1]
Referees	Robert Hicks
Attendance	21,331
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Nine Network Sky Sports Maori Television

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]

2019 Betfred World Club Challenge Teams

Wigan Warriors	Position	Sydney Roosters
20. Zak Hardaker	Fullback	1. James Tedesco
2. Tom Davies	Wing	2. Daniel Tupou
4. Oliver Gildart	Centre	4. Joseph Manu
3. Dan Sarginson	Centre	5. Brett Morris
17. Liam Marshall	Wing	20. Matt Ikuvalu
6. George Williams	Stand-off/Five-eighth	6. Luke Keary
7. Thomas Leuluai	Scrum-half/Halfback	7. Cooper Cronk
8. Tony Clubb	Prop	8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Sam Powell	Hooker	9. Jake Friend
10. Ben Flower	Prop	10. Siosiua Taukeiaho
11. Joe Greenwood	Second-row	11. Boyd Cordner (c)
12. Liam Farrell	Second-row	3. Mitchell Aubusson
13. Sean O'Loughlin (c)	Loose forward/Lock	13. Victor Radley
14. Romain Navarrete	Interchange	14. Isaac Liu
15. Willie Isa	Interchange	15. Zane Tetevano
16. Gabe Hamlin	Interchange	16. Lindsay Collins
22. Joe Bullock	Interchange	17. Nat Butcher
Adrian Lam	Coach	Trent Robinson

Match Details

17 February

Wigan Warriors	8 – 20	Sydney Roosters
Tries: Tom Davies (20') 1 Liam Marshall (65') 1 Goals: Zak Hardaker 0/2	1st: 4 – 14 2nd: 4 – 6	Tries: 3 (4', 9', 32') Brett Morris 1 (77') Daniel Tupou Goals: 2/4 Sio Siua Taukeiaho (10', 61' pen) 0/1 James Tedesco

DW Stadium, Wigan Attendance: 21,331 Referee: Robert Hicks Man of the Match: Brett Morris

References

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