Wigan Warriors v Sydney Roosters World Club Challenge – Rugby League Betting February 17

Roosters' class can see them edge out the Warriors

Rugby Betting

This Sunday sees the annual clash between the Super League champions and the NRL champions for the World Club Challenge with Grand Final winners Wigan Warriors entertaining their Australian counterparts Sydney Roosters at the DW Stadium.

This one-off match-up alternates yearly between Australia and the UK with this year’s clash being a repeat of the 2014 World Club Challenge, won by the Roosters. Wigan have home advantage this time, however, and should have the edge in fitness. The Super League season may have just begun but it is close season in the NRL.

Wigan have won more World Club Challenges than any other side. They were successful only two years ago, beating Cronulla Sharks on home soil, and had won in three of six previous attempts. The Roosters are among a number of clubs who have won it three times. At present, the Super League just hold the advantage over the NRL in World Club Challenges, having won 13 compared to 12.

World Club Challenge Past Results

Year Winners Score Runner-up
1976 Sydney 25-2 St. Helens
1987 Wigan 8-2 Manly
1989 Widnes 30-18 Canberra
1991 Wigan 21-4 Penrith
1992 Brisbane 22-8 Wigan
1994 Wigan 20-14 Brisbane
1997 Brisbane 36-12 Hunter Mariners
2000 Melbourne 44-6 St. Helens
2001 St. Helens 20-18 Brisbane
2002 Bradford 41-26 Newcastle
2003 Sydney 38-0 St. Helens
2004 Bradford 22-4 Penrith
2005 Leeds 39-32 Canterbury
2006 Bradford 30-10 Wests
2007 St. Helens 18-14 Brisbane
2008 Leeds 11-4 Melbourne
2009 Manly 28-20 Leeds
2010 Melbourne 1 18-10 Leeds
2011 St George Illawarra 21-15 Wigan
2012 Leeds 26-12 Manly
2013 Melbourne 18-14 Leeds
2014 Sydney 36-14 Wigan
2015 South Sydney 39-0 St. Helens
2016 North Queensland 38-4 Leeds
2017 Wigan 22-6 Cronulla
2018 Melbourne 38-4 Leeds

1 Melbourne stripped of title due to salary cap breaches

World_Club_Challenge_logoThe Roosters have travelled over with a 23-man squad but there is no Latrell Mitchell. The centre was instrumental in his side’s run to the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership and Trent Robinson’s team are not the same force without his speed and strength, though will have the ever-improving James Tedesco in their starting line-up and also Joseph Manu.

Wigan didn’t get off the best of starts in this year’s Super League, receiving a two-point deduction for breaching the salary cap before losing their opener at St Helens. But Adrian Lam’s side got back on track against Leeds Rhinos, though could also be without their first-choice centre Dan Sarginson against Sydney. The boot of former Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker is usually worth a few points, however.

Wigan Warriors v Sydney Roosters Prediction

Only one Super League team has won the World Club Challenge in the last six years but that was Wigan Warriors and they probably have a better chance of success than Ladbrokes’ odds of 13/5 would suggest. The Roosters did top the NRL table in Regular Season last year, however, as well as winning the Grand Final so are the dominant force in southern hemisphere club rugby at present and may just have the class to edge what should be a high-scoring affair.