Summary

  • FT: Wigan Warriors 8-20 Sydney Roosters

  • Sydney Roosters win record-equalling fourth World Club Challenge title

  • Roosters now share record with Super League champions Wigan

  • First-half Morris hat-trick set Roosters up for victory

  1. Good nightpublished at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Roosters celebrate with the World Club Challenge trophyImage source, SWPIX.COM

    Our work here is done.

    What have we learned? I think we've discovered - much like England in Test football - that we're not a million miles away from the best teams in the world.

    The best way to improve is to keep our hemispheres in competition like this, to generate those opportunities to test ourselves.

    Credit to the Roosters, who were excellent ambassadors for the sport, from their trophy tours through England to the expansion work and cultural trips to the Somme and Paris in preparation.

    Huge credit to Wigan too, who flew the Super League flag with pride, beaten but not bowed.

    Thanks for joining us tonight, it's been a pleasure. Good night.

  2. Roosters beat Wigan in World Club Challengepublished at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    Want a more considered view of the game? Try the report...

    Roosters beat Wigan in Club Challenge

    NRL champions Sydney Roosters beat Wigan Warriors 20-8 at the DW Stadium to win their fourth World Club Challenge title.

    Read More
  3. What about the Chooks?published at 21:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    While Wigan are pitched right back into the grit and grind of Super League action next weekend, the Roosters don't begin their NRL campaign until 15 March.

    What a way to kick it all off too? The Sydney Cricket Ground, against old foes Souths.

    Ryan Hall might be in the mix by then, having left Leeds for Bondi at the end of last season. Adding extra spice to matters is the possibility of Angus Crichton making his Roosters debut against his old team.

    I wonder if he'll be as successful an import as Luke Keary was from the cardinal and myrtle?

  4. What's next for the Cherry and Whites?published at 21:17 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    There is a six-day turn around for Wigan to their next game against Hull FC, who are now without a win in 13 games going back to June last year.

    There will be some sore bodies after this one so rehab will be the order of the day, while Hull - despite naming a strong side for yesterday's reserve team friendly with Wakefield - have had a two-week break.

  5. Postpublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    The faces of genuine delight for those Sydney Roosters players are a really heartwarming sight, as it breathes massive life into the future of this competition.

    They even take a bit of time to sup champagne from the silverware, much deserved celebrations having taken on and beaten a really tenacious Wigan side.

    They've now taken it down to the small band of Roosters fans at the DW who have done their best to recreate the famous 'Chookpen' fans section in this chilly part of the north west.

  6. Postpublished at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Former Wigan and Easts winger Martin Offiah hands out the medals to the Roosters players as they make their way down the line, and eventually the cup goes to Boyd Cordner too...

    He lifts it high, the champagne sprays and the smile on Trent Robinson's face says it all... the Sydney Roosters are World Club Champions.

  7. "We're proud to get the win"published at 21:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Quote Message

    It is satisfying. It's a long way to come, as the Roosters playing ground it means a lot to us. We knew it would be tough, both sides play really good footy and we're proud to get the win.

    Sydney Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner told BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

  8. "We can take positives"published at 21:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Wigan players after the World Club Challenge defeatImage source, PA
    Quote Message

    It was a tough challenge, we knew that. We were disappointed with the soft tries in the first-half but we showed a better display second-half and we can take positives out of that.

    Wigan winger Liam Marshall told BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

  9. "We knew they would be physical"published at 21:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Quote Message

    We knew they would be physical, we matched them but they didn't stop coming at us. When we got the two quick tries I thought we might run away with it but they didn't stop. It was topsy-turvy in the second half, they had chances to draw level, but we were gutsy in defence.

    Sydney Roosters stand-off Luke Keary told BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

  10. Postpublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    I was at the 2012 World Club Challenge when Brett Morris scored twice to get man of the match as a St George Illawarra player, and he's followed that with a second honour for his hat-trick efforts tonight.

    He might have found it a bit easy for the first couple, but Wigan stood up afterwards to make it a really tough game.

  11. Postpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2019

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    How good was that? It was nailbiting at times, stomach-churning and breathless. Thoroughly absorbing and gripping.

    What did the Roosters do well? Ran hard, had plenty of punch, kicked beautifully and were defensively teak-tough.

    How about Wigan? Stayed in the grind, scored some wonderful tries and caused the Roosters problems... it will take some team to stop their opponents.

  12. Roosters are World Club Challenge winnerspublished at 80 mins

    FT: Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Roosters celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    Trent Robinson's Roosters are winners... and a brave Wigan come away with nothing from their meeting of two hemispheres.

    Brett Morris' hat-trick and Daniel Tupou's last gasp try proves the difference for the Chooks, with Wigan showing flashes of class and a never-say-die attitude in their reply with tries from Tom Davies and Liam Marshall.

    No shame for the Super League side, but the Roosters show just how good they are, why they are the NRL premiers and why they are the world champions.

  13. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Wigan 8-20 Roosters

    Wigan go for the short drop-out but the Sydney Roosters claw it in and deny them a late flurry.

    Time ticking down.

    Last tackle... kick behind... Oliver Gildart well-placed for Wigan to mop up.

  14. try

    TRY: Wigan 8-20 Roosterspublished at 77 mins

    Daniel Tupou

    Daniel Tupou tryImage source, Getty Images

    When Roosters have had the dead-set field position, they have punished Wigan and this was no exception.

    Having forced a repeat set off the drop-out, the Roosters get to within a couple of metres of the line.

    Luke Keary gets to the final play and hoists a kick to the towering Daniel Tupou on the left, pouches and grounds in one smooth motion and that IS THE BALLGAME.

    Roosters have the trophy in the bag. Hard on a very game Wigan.

  15. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Wigan 8-16 Roosters

    Another superb play to the left edge forces a drop out, Luke Keary the man with the ball...

    Short drop-out again... backfires! Roosters in range...

  16. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Wigan 8-16 Roosters

    Wigan toss the ball to touch after a promising move, but it's the kind of 'go-for-broke' move they have to do at this stage.

    Roosters get the ball back. Five minutes left. It's raggedy but absolutely absorbing.

  17. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Wigan 8-16 Roosters

    Roosters force a drop-out... after a dangerous last tackle play into the in-goal.

    Daniel Tupou couldn't work out where the ball had gone, and the swipe behind was from Willie Isa.

    WIGAN WIN IT BACK OFF THE SHORT DROP-OUT! Huge. Six and a bit to go...

  18. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Wigan 8-16 Roosters

    Final nine minutes...

    Roosters look like they're struggling with the pace at the present moment. Wigan are moving the ball with pace and space...

    Tommy Leuluai puts a kick through... it loops up! The chase is on! Oli Gildart can't get it cleanly and it goes dead...

    Phew! So close for Wigan. Roosters hold out...

    Oliver Gildart of Wigan Warriors is tackled by Jake Friend and Luke Keary of Sydney RoostersImage source, Rex Features
  19. 'Wigan still have time'published at 69 mins

    Wigan 8-16 Roosters

    Jay Freeman
    BBC Sport at DW Stadium

    "We've got a game on our hands here folks. That's a cracking try from Marshall and just what the home fans were after.

    "That try has been coming and had Zak Hardaker not missed the extras, I think the momentum from that score could almost definitely have spurred Wigan on to victory.

    "There's still time, though, and the Roosters will have to do it in front of a hostile, partisan Wigan crowd if they are to hold on."

  20. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Wigan 8-16 Roosters

    Roosters concede a drop out after a brilliant kick in behind and Matt Ikuvalu is forced behind...

    Wigan get the ball back, Roosters under the pump.