Kick-offpublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
The anthems are over. Let's get it on. Sydney Roosters v Wigan Warriors for the World Club Challenge. We are off!
Summary
FT: Sydney 36-14 Wigan
Michael Jennings hat-trick and Sam Moa for Sydney
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Shaun Kenny-Dowall also score
Joe Burgess and Josh Charnley (2) for Wigan
Live commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra
Kick-offpublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Get involvedpublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Stacy Phillips, external: I'm a proud Wiganer living in Canada, up at 5.30am to watch the mighty Cherry and Whites. C'mon boys, let's make history!
Postpublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Here we go. The two teams are being led out by their respective coaches and we are about to hear the national anthems.
You can listen to live commentary of the match right now on BBC 5 live sports extra and also by clicking the link at the top of the page.
Postpublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Matt Head
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra"It is a great looking Roosters outfit. Apart from Luke O'Donnell [who retired at the end of last season] they are the same as last year, if not better. The Roosters will come out firing tonight and I hope Wigan can stand up and give them a good show for their money. They might have a chance here tonight.
"There are no mugs that have come over for Wigan. Sean O'Loughlin comes over with plenty of raps and they really want to win this game. you don't come this far to get beaten."
Postpublished at 09:04 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Both sets of players are still in the dressing room. Some are pacing around. Some have their heads bowed collecting their thoughts. All are aware of the significance of the game ahead.
Postpublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
We were expecting the game to kick off about now. However, the teams are not out on the pitch yet. So the tension will brew for a little while longer...
Postpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Wigan coach Shaun Wane won the World Club Challenge as a player in 1987. To win it as a coach, on Australian soil, would be extra special.
"This is the biggest game of my career," said Wane, who succeeded Michael Maguire as coach at the start of the 2012 season. "If we can win this in a tough place, it would be huge for me and the team."
What the coaches saypublished at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesWith only moments to go, here's what the two coaches have had to say ahead of the 2014 World Club Challenge:
Trent Robinson, Sydney Roosters: "[England coach and Roosters assistant Steve McNamara] has seen more of Wigan than any one of us, having spent time up there. I know how they play as well. We've spent a little bit more time than normal preparing for Wigan because of the importance of the game. I think we're well prepared."
Shaun Wane, Wigan Warriors: "When I got offered the choice, I jumped at the chance of travelling to Australia and the chance to make history. I want these players to understand that in 10 or 20 years, when they've finished playing, this game will be a really important one."
Postpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters on Twitter, external: The two skippers exchange gifts pre-match.
Sydney Roosters: The men to watchpublished at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck would have been a man to fear, but the New Zealand winger has failed to recover from the broken leg he suffered in November's World Cup final defeat by Australia.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, another Kiwi - Sonny Bill Williams - is included. A World Cup winner in rugby union, a national heavyweight boxing champion, and one of the best rugby league players of his generation - this guy is pretty special.
Sydney's last appearance: Victory in 2003published at 08:52 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesIn their last World Club Challenge outing 11 years ago, Sydney Roosters swept St Helens aside 38-0 at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.
Sydney's side on that day included rugby league legend Brad Fittler, England prop Adrian Morley and full-back Anthony Minichiello, who will captain the Roosters today against Wigan.
Wigan's last appearance: Defeat in 2011published at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesWigan last appeared in the World Club Challenge three years ago, and were beaten on home soil. The Warriors lost 21-15 to St George Illawarra at the DW Stadium in 2011.
Ten minutes to kick-offpublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Wigan can achieve greatness, says Offiahpublished at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Wigan winger Martin Offiah says winning the World Club Challenge in Australia would be this Warriors team's "greatest achievement".
Wigan have won three major domestic trophies in two full seasons under current coach Shaun Wane and are hoping to emulate the squad of 1994, who were the last English side to win the event on Australian soil.
"English teams have had a lot of success in the World Club Challenge over the last decade or so but it has been played on our terms, on our soil, in our climate," he told BBC Sport. "Wigan will be out there in Australia in different surroundings where nothing is familiar. The heat, the pitch, the grass, the ball - everything will be foreign to them."
Postpublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Wigan have been down under for two weeks in preparation for this game. They travelled to New Zealand shortly after their Super League defeat by Huddersfield Giants on 7 February and comfortably beat New Zealand Warriors in a warm-up match before heading to Sydney for the World Club Challenge.
How they got here: Sydney Roosterspublished at 08:43 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesTrent Robinson's Roosters ended their 11-year wait for a Grand Final victory in October, beating Manly 26-18 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
They trailed by 10 points early in the second half but tries from Aidan Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowell and Michael Jennings secured a first title since 2002.
How they got here: Wigan Warriorspublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesWigan beat Warrington 30-16 in Super League's Grand Final at Old Trafford last October. Shaun Wane's side fell 16-2 behind but fought back with 28 unanswered points with tries from Darrell Goulding, Michael McIlorum, Josh Charnley, Blake Green and Pat Richards.
It was a first league title in three years for the Warriors, who had won the Challenge Cup at Wembley six weeks earlier.
What is the World Club Challenge?published at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Image source, Getty ImagesThe World Club Challenge is an annual fixture played between the Super League champions and the winners of Australia's National Rugby League.
England has hosted every World Club Challenge fixture since it returned to the format of a one-off match in 2000, and this morning's game is the first to be played in Australia since Wigan beat Brisbane in 1994.
Melbourne Storm beat Leeds Rhinos 18-14 at Headingley to win in 2013.
Postpublished at 08:36 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Sean O'Loughlin is obviously a man for the big occasion. Injuries severely affected him in the final weeks of last season.
His last two appearances for Wigan Warriors? The Challenge Cup final and the Grand Final. He lifted trophies at the end of both of those games.
Get involvedpublished at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 22 February 2014
Earlier this week, Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin said he hoped the whole of England would be behind the Warriors in today's World Club Challenge.
"It feels like we're not just representing Wigan, but we're also representing Super League and trying to show the strength of the competition that we're involved in," the 31-year-old told BBC Radio Manchester.
How important is a Wigan victory for the domestic game? And if you support another Super League club, will you be cheering on the Warriors today? Let us know using #bbcrl, external on Twitter or via the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.