- Written by Stuart Brennan
- bbc sports
Attempt: Miski, Reaming, Wardle the goal: H. Smith 2 |
Attempt: cleary, edwards the goal: clearly 2 |
Wigan defeated Australian champions Penrith Panthers at DW Stadium to win the World Club Challenge for a record-equalling fifth time.
The Warriors led twice through Abbas Miski and Cruz Leeming, but the Panthers responded with Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards and led 12-10 at halftime.
After the break, two important decisions by referee Liam Moore benefited Wigan.
First, he ruled that Jake Wardle won the game with a touchdown, and then he denied Tyrann Maye's final blow.
The night was heartbreaking for the Panthers. The Panthers have dominated the Australian game for the past three seasons, but have now lost all four attempts at world domination.
The game was a breathless affair from start to finish, with Wigan on the back foot for long periods, but only scoring three goals from any real attacks into the opposition's half.
Panthers Edge Seesaw First Half
The game started with a fumble by Willie Isa in front of his own post, but Penrith increased the pressure early on and Wigan rose up the other end to score a superb first try.
When the Warriors got the ball into the middle, Bevan French sent a long pass to Miski, who was lurking along the right touchline. He scooted and scored in the corner.
Penrith looked rusty during the Domestic National Rugby League pre-season, with Cleary's high kick ricocheting off Miski's head and Mitch Kenny leading Cleary into a simple try for a number of tackles on his sixth. I was also caught up.
Cleary's kick put Australia ahead, but Wigan scored another surprising goal, with some great team movement opening up holes in the Penrith defense and ending with Leeming running over.
The Panthers won last year's NRL Grand Final with a remarkable comeback against the Brisbane Broncos and roared back this time, with the dangerous Edwards leveling the score through a gap and taking the lead at the break with Cleary's kick.
The referee's decision goes according to Wigan's wishes.
Wigan were on the back foot for most of the second half, but defended ferociously and their only attack came when Wardle picked up Jay Field's grubber kick.
He was held down in front of the line and appeared to be guilty of double action, but referee Moore ruled on the field to allow the try and after a lengthy video review his decision was upheld. Ta.
Penrith came on again and Field produced a great tackle to deny May.
French was denied a wonderful try by Wigan as he raced into Harry Smith's early kick, but was spotted by the video official and ruled offside as he was inches short of Smith.
Penrith stepped up in a last-ditch effort and looked like they might have scored an equalizing try with seconds remaining, but May burst onto the line surrounded by Miski and Field.
Moore's call was “no try” and when several video angles proved otherwise, Wigan jumped for joy.
Their win means they are now tied with the Sydney Roosters as the only teams to have won the World Club Challenge five times.
“We won by never giving in” – Reaction
Wigan manager Matt Peat told BBC Sport:
“It was a great game, two outstanding teams. You could see throughout the game what a great team Penrith are. I couldn't be more proud of the players. We've got to build on that from now on. It must be done.”
“The players were very brave in the second half. They never gave up and we won the game.
“They're an outstanding group of players. I love working with them. They never give up and you can see in the games how much that means to them. It took a special effort to get us through tonight, we wanted it.'' That's it.
“It’s nights like this that we crave, and we’re going to have many more.”
Bevan French, Wigan's man of the match during the stand-off, told BBC Sport:
“It was very tough, but I think it was a really close win.
“I wasn't too happy because we were in their territory too often. To be honest, I feel like we were holding our own line for 80 minutes.”
“That's something the players are really proud of. A win like that means more than an easy, easy win. Hopefully, this will be talked about for a long time.”
“They are [Penrith] It was a very special team and I felt like they really controlled the whole game.
“At the end of the day, we dug deep and really wanted it.
“There's no doubt about it. I don't think we could have gotten the job done if it wasn't in front of a packed Wigan crowd. In the end they really let us go home.”
Penrith head coach Ivan Cleary told BBC Sport:
“Wigan had chances and we didn't. In the end, that was probably the difference. It was a pretty high-quality game, but congratulations to Wigan.”
“We definitely had better field position in both halves, but we couldn't get rid of them and they looked in three times and scored three tries.
“We should feel like we can do more than that, but at the end of the day they were clinical when they needed to be and that led to their win.
“It was a close game. It was a great game for the crowd. I'm disappointed we didn't win, but I'm proud of the players.”
“It's better to be here and lose than not be here.”
Wigan: Field, Miski, Kieran, Wardle, Marshall, French, H. Smith, Cooper, O'Neill, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Ellis.
Interchange: Mago, Leeming, Dupree, Hill
Penrith: Edwards, Trouba, Tago, May, Too, Cole, Cleary, Leota, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Garner, Martin, Yaw.
Interchange: Peachey, L. Smith, Henry, Eisenhuss.