Wigan Warriors reveal details of World Club Challenge with NRL champions

Wigan have confirmed details of the World Club Challenge - and as expected, the Sydney Roosters will be heading to the DW Stadium!
Sean O'Loughlin in action against Sydney Roosters in 2014Sean O'Loughlin in action against Sydney Roosters in 2014
Sean O'Loughlin in action against Sydney Roosters in 2014

The annual showdown between the Super League champions and the Australian premiers will take place on Sunday, February 17 (kick-off 7pm).

Their announcement was not a surprise - all the chatter had been about the match taking place on these shores - but it will be greeted with excitement by many Warriors fans, who saw their team beat Cronulla in 2017 to win the WCC crowd a fourth time.

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Wigan are set to have two Super League matches before then - the new fixtures are revealed early next week - as they adapt to new coach Adrian Lam, himself a former halfback with both the Warriors and the Roosters.

Lam said: “I feel honoured and privileged to be the coach of our great Wigan club for the 2019 season.

“I have had some great memories in the cherry and white that I will forever hold close to my heart.

“Another great opportunity presents itself with the World Club Challenge in February and our squad will work hard to prepare well through pre-season to deliver a performance that will make our fans proud.”

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This showdown will be a repeat of the 2014 WCC decider in Sydney, which the Roosters won 36-14 in front of more than 31,000 fans.

Chairman Ian Lenagan is predicting a 25,000 sell-out at the DW Stadium for a match which could feature Roosters superstars Cooper Cronk, Boyd Cordner, James Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell.

He said: “The World Club Challenge is a special competition for the Wigan club and with a game against Sydney Roosters we have two of rugby league’s most iconic institutions facing one another.

“Seeing the cherry and white of Wigan up against the tricolour of the Roosters in front of a packed stadium on a Sunday will be a great spectacle. With the calibre of players on show from both teams, it should be a great advert for our sport.”

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Wigan are four-time WCC winners, having lifted the crown in 1987, 1991 and 1994, as well as last year. The Roosters won the inaugural WCC in 1976 and backed that up with wins in 2003 and 2014.

Ticket details will be released next Wednesday.

Roosters CEO Scott Bennetts added: “Both clubs feature notably in the history of the tournament, and with the Roosters having hosted the 2014 World Club Challenge match between our clubs at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, we are looking forward to making the trip to Wigan.”