2014 World Club Challenge

2014 (2014) World Club Challenge  ()
The Sydney Football Stadium hosted the match
Sydney Roosters Wigan Warriors (NRL) (SL) 36 14
1 2 Total SYD 18 18 36 WIG 0 14 14
Date	22 February 2014
Stadium	Sydney Football Stadium
Location	Sydney, Australia
Man of the Match	Jake Friend
Referee	Ben Cummins Gerard Sutton
Attendance	31,515
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Nine Network Sky Sports Māori Television
World Club Challenge ←  2013 2015  →

The 2014 World Club Challenge was the 15th consecutive annual (and 22nd overall) World Club Challenge and was contested by Super League XVIII champions, Wigan Warriors and 2013 NRL Premiers, the Sydney Roosters. The 2014 World Club Challenge marked a return to Australia, 20 years after the last Australian based game. It was played on 22 February 2014 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. ^[1] The Roosters won the match 36–14.

By winning the World Club Challenge, the Roosters were the only team to win on Australian soil, but are the only team to have won twice. In 1976, Eastern Suburbs, the 1975 NSWRFL Premiers, defeated the 1975–76 English champions St. Helens 25–2 in front of 26,865 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Background

This game marked the first time that these two clubs have played each other. It was the third final for Sydney and the sixth final for Wigan and was the first time in 20 years that it has been staged in Australia. The last World Club Challenge staged in Australia was in 1994 and coincidentally, also featured Wigan. In 1994, Wigan defeated the Brisbane Broncos 20–14 in front of what is still the WCC record attendance of 54,220 at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium.

After the 2013 Rugby League World Cup had been staged in England, it was agreed to transfer this game to Australia. The Sydney Roosters had as many as 16 players who had already travelled across to England for the Rugby League World Cup.

Sydney Roosters

Further information: 2013 Sydney Roosters season and 2013 NRL Grand Final

The Roosters finished the 2013 NRL season in 1st place to claim the minor premiership and on 6 October 2013 defeated the 4th-placed Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 26 - 18 in the 2013 NRL Grand final, ^[2] qualifying Sydney for their third World Club Challenge, and first since 2003. Tony Smith, the coach of Wigan's 2013 Grand final opponents, Warrington Wolves, flew to sydney to assist the Roosters in their preparation for the World Club Challenge. ^[3]

Wigan Warriors

Further information: 2013 Wigan Warriors season and 2013 Super League Grand Final

Wigan finished Super League XVIII's regular season in 4th place and on 5 October 2013 defeated 2nd-placed Warrington Wolves 30 - 16 in the 2013 Super League Grand final, ^[4] qualifying the Warriors for their sixth World Club Challenge overall.

Having already played their first game of the 2014 Super League season, Wigan traveled down under. They prepared for the World Club Challenge with a match in Hamilton, New Zealand against a New Zealand Warriors side which was heavily depleted due to the upcoming Auckland Nines tournament. Wigan won the match at Waikato Stadium 46–22. ^[5]

Teams

2014 World Club Challenge Teams

Sydney Roosters	Posit.	Wigan Warriors
Anthony Minichiello (c)	Fullback	Matthew Bowen
Daniel Tupou	Winger	Josh Charnley
Michael Jennings	Centre	Darrell Goulding
Mitchell Aubusson	Centre	Dan Sarginson
Shaun Kenny-Dowall	Winger	Joe Burgess
James Maloney	Five-eighth	Blake Green
Mitchell Pearce	Halfback	Matty Smith
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves	Prop	Gil Dudson
Jake Friend	Hooker	Michael McIlorum
Sam Moa	Prop	Ben Flower
Boyd Cordner	2nd Row	Jack Hughes
Sonny Bill Williams	2nd Row	Liam Farrell
Frank-Paul Nu'uausala	Lock	Sean O'Loughlin (c)
Daniel Mortimer	Interchange	Scott Taylor
Aidan Guerra	Interchange	Dom Crosby
Dylan Napa	Interchange	Eddy Pettybourne
Rémi Casty	Interchange	John Bateman
Trent Robinson	Coach	Shaun Wane

Match details

22 February 2014 8:00pm (Local)

Sydney Roosters	36 – 14	Wigan Warriors
Tries: Michael Jennings (4', 22', 49') Sam Moa (13') Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (67') Shaun Kenny-Dowall (72') Goals: James Maloney (6/6)	(Report)	Tries: Joe Burgess (44') Josh Charnley (52', 59') Goals: Matty Smith (1/3)

Allianz Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 31,515 Referee: Ben Cummins Gerard Sutton Player of the Match: Jake Friend

References

1. Hamilton, Chris. "Rugby League: Ian Lenagan wants Super League winners to play 2014 World Club in Sydney". Daily Express. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
2. Kent, Paul. "Sydney Roosters beat Manly Sea Eagles 26-18 to win epic NRL Grand Final". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
3. Horne, Ben. "Warrington help Roosters beat Wigan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
4. Liew, Jonathan. "Super League Grand Final 2013: Warrington Wolves 16 Wigan Warriors 30: match report". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
5. Mascord, Steve. "Wigan prepare for World Club Challenge with win over weakened New Zealand Warriors". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2014.