WCC THREAD - SYDNEY ROOSTERS vs WIGAN WARRIORS (Sat 22/2/14)

[theGman]

http://www.nrl.com/wigan-name-world-...3/default.aspx

Wigan name World Club Challenge squad

England internationals Sean O'Loughlin, Josh Charnley, Michael McIlorum and Liam Farrell have been named in Wigan's squad for next week's World Club Challenge clash with the Sydney Roosters.

The representative quarter have been named in coach Shaun Wane's 27-man squad alongside NRL veterans Matt Bowen, Eddy Pettybourne and Blake Green.

English winger Charnley missed Wigan's upset opening round Super League loss to Huddersfield due to an off-season hernia operation but is expected to be fit for the February 22 match at Allianz Stadium.

Charnley, Super League's leading tryscorer last season, is set to trial for a NRL spot in the showdown between the northern hemisphere champions and the NRL premiers with the 22-year-old's manager publicly declaring his client's desire to win a contract in Australia.

Wigan arrived in Auckland on Monday ahead of Wednesday's clash with the New Zealand Warriors in Hamilton.

Their loss to Huddersfield shocked Wigan who were expected to have a better preparation than the Roosters who will go into the World Club Challenge on the back of only a lower grade trial against Newcastle and this weekend's NRL Auckland Nines.

Wigan are missing Sam Tomkins, Pat Richards and Lee Mossop from their side, which claimed the Super League title and Challenge Cup trophy, while the Roosters are likely to be only without the retired Luke O'Donnell from the side that defeated Manly in last season's NRL decider.

Wigan squad: Sean O' Loughlin (c), Matthew Bowen, Josh Charnley, Darrell Goulding, Matthew Smith, Blake Green, Michael McIlorum, Eddy Pettybourne, Tony Clubb, Scott Taylor, Ben Flower, Liam Farrell, Jordan James, Gil Dudson, Sam Powell, Dom Crosby, John Batemen, Anthony Gelling, Dom Manfredi, George Williams, Ryan Hampshire, Dan Sarginson, Logan Tomkins, Greg Burke, Iain Thornley, Jack Hughes, Joe Burgess.

[theGman]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226821270679

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson knows side must evolve if they are to defend title

TRENT Robinson hasn't needed to ram it home but the focus for the Sydney Roosters coach and his players as they embark on their premiership defence has been made clear enough nonetheless.

"We definitely feel like we can't stand still," Robinson says.

"What we managed to achieve last year was pretty special but that's done.

"Our competition's great because it doesn't stagnate. That's proven each year by changing winners and changing styles.

"We have to get better because what we did last season won't be enough. That's the big test for us. The boys are aware of it and that's a motivation in itself."

It's difficult to come up with any reasonable argument to indicate why the Roosters won't be a dominant force again in 2014.

Their premiership-winning playing group is largely untouched. Just senior forwards Luke O'Donnell and Martin Kennedy are missing.

It's hardly an ageing roster either with only fullback Anthony Minichiello considered in the veteran class.

The forward pack, led by prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, is among the most intimidating in the competition. There's the Sonny Bill Williams factor, the skill of NSW Origin halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney and the sheer speed and excitement out wide of Michael Jennings and Roger Tuivasa-Scheck.

The quality of the squad is reflected in the fact they had more players at the World Cup than any other NRL team.

"We're in good shape," Robinson says.

"When I came into the job, we viewed it as a project of a couple of years so we had everyone pretty well tied up for that period. We won it in our first year so we get blessed by having them together for another 12 months.

"We've lost O'Donnell and Kennedy and we've brought in (French recruit) Remi Casty so we are fairly stable.

"The big thing for us is we're still developing as a footy team as far as the things we put in place at the start of last season. Yes, we won the comp but we still feel like there are things we want to get done to evolve further.

"That hasn't changed just because we were successful. We are one year into a system of how we want to play and if anyone says they are complete after one year, they are not being true to where they want to get to."

While the World Cup has made for a disjointed pre-season preparation with so many players involved, the Roosters do have an advantage over previous NRL winners chasing consecutive titles.

They don't have to go to England for the World Club Challenge.

"Playing at home here in Sydney against Wigan and not having to travel over there is a real positive for us," Robinson says.

"But the preparation becomes a bit of a balancing act. Do teams with a shorter pre-season have as much energy as a team with a longer one by the time the end of the season games roll around?

"Can we program things well enough to still be firing at that time? Those are questions that have to be answered.''

Key player Maloney admits the pre-season has been shorter than normal but the lack of personnel changes has offset that.

"It's been a bit disjointed with so many boys coming back late but the big thing is we are not starting from square one," he said.

"It's all in front of us. We're the premiers so we are going to be hitting everyone when they are at their best trying to bring us down."

Could a lack of hunger become a potential threat?

"We pride ourselves now on playing to a certain standard," he said.

"That's not going to change because we won last year. If anything, the bar just gets raised."

[theGman]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226821441610

Fans relish World Club Challenge with game poised draw large crowd

THE World Club Challenge, regarded by many as a waste of time only a few years ago, is on track to draw a bigger crowd than four of last year's NRL final series fixtures.

And the clash between NRL premiers the Sydney Roosters and English Super League champions Wigan, to be held on February 22 at Allianz Stadium, will also boast a larger attendance than the traditional Charity Shield match, held the same night between South Sydney and St George Illawarra in Wollongong.

As of last Friday, 13,000 tickets had been sold for the first World Club Challenge in Sydney for 40 years. NRL officials are confident that over the next fortnight that at least, a further 10,000 tickets will be purchased.

A crowd of 23,000 and above would surpass four of last year's final series matches, including the semi final between Manly and Cronulla held at Allianz Stadium, which drew just over 19,000 fans.The worthiness of the World Club Challenge has been the subject of intense debate in recent years, largely due to the fact that the match was held each year in the UK.

The World Club Challenge has been contested 21 times, and only two have been played in Australia.

Wigan beat the Broncos in Brisbane in 1994 while Easts beat St Helens 25-2 in the inaugural WCC at the SCG way back in 1976.

The timing of the event, during the NRL pre season, was also widely considered detrimental to the Australian side's preparation, due to the lengthy travel involved, ahead of a new NRL season.

But clearly the clash for rugby league bragging rights has a place in Sydney, with fans eager to see the best club team from England, take on the class of the Roosters.

Sydney Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan was buoyed by the uptake in interest in the match - and not only from tri-colours supporters.

"We're predicting a crowd of 20 to 25,000,'' Canavan said.

"Initially we found it difficult to assess what numbers we may have, but I must say it's been very pleasing.

"It's a big game for us, challenging for the world championship. It really gives us a big kick off into the season.

"It will have a home ground feel for us, but we've been told Wigan want 700 tickets for a bay, of which we've aside for them.''

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has been vocal in his admission that winning the World Club Challenge is a genuine priority for the club. That point was made evident by Robinson's decision to rest Sonny Bill Williams from next weekend's NRL Auckland Nines tournament.

Williams will be saved for the World Club Challenge where centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall is set to line up alongside Roger Tuivasa-Sheck against Wigan in a Roosters side that could only be missing the retired Luke O'Donnell from their grand final winning outfit.

"There's a lot of prestige to this game and right back before January, 'Robbo' told me he'd be picking the best 17 available,'' Canavan said.

Adding to the intrigue of Wigan's squad is that former North Queensland Cowboys fullback and NRL fan favourite, Matt Bowen, is likely to be wearing the no1 jumper for the English Super League side.

Bowen is expected to be joined by former NRL players now aligned with Wigan including Blake Green, Eddy Pettybourne and Epalahame Lauaki.

The Sydney Roosters last won the World Club Challenge back in 2003 with a whopping 38-0 win over St Helens at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

[Roostarz]

If anyone wants to check out our opposition for the WCC - their trial game against New Zealand is on tomorrow at 5.30PM on Fox Sports 1.

[Guest]

Does anyone know any live streams for
Us peasants with out fox ? Could
Be a good game ...

[The Brain]

Does anyone know any live streams for
Us peasants with out fox ? Could
Be a good game ...

Try this one usually has every thing at the time its on
http://myp2p.pw/index.php?part=home

[Guest]

As if you'd start a match day thread Gman.

Kegs has probably slit his wrists now...

[stsae]

As if you'd start a match day thread Gman.

Kegs has probably slit his wrists now...

Golden.

Everyone's conspiring against Keggsy.

[theGman]

As if you'd start a match day thread Gman.
Kegs has probably slit his wrists now...

He'll probably start another one just for the sake of it

[Rooster_6]

Tickets look to be selling well the last reserved bay is on sale at the moment (Bay 9)



That's a guaranteed packed sideline on both sides of the ground. Should be 20+ if we get better weather than is predicted for this weekend. Really need to get a roof on the SFS!

[Rooster_6]

Tickets look to be selling well the last reserved bay is on sale at the moment (Bay 9)



That's a guaranteed packed sideline on both sides of the ground. Should be 20k+ if we get better weather than is predicted for this weekend. Really need to get a roof on the SFS!

[Guest]

As if you'd start a match day thread Gman.

Kegs has probably slit his wrists now...

Pathetic Greeds. You talk pretty tough for someone with little man issues.

[Guest]

Pathetic Greeds. You talk pretty tough for someone with little man issues.

I don't understand how that is talking tough?

No little man issues here petal, just a severe case of smartarseness...

[Guest]

Last time a looked I'm sure there was only one Wigan supporters bay ..could be mistaken though ..

[fletch]

Wigan half-back or hooker Sam Powell has been ruled out of Saturday's World Club Challenge against Sydney Roosters after suffering an ankle injury in training.

Powell, 21, was ruled out of the clash at the Sydney Football Stadium following an initial diagnosis but it remains to be seen how long he will be on the sidelines.

He will have a thorough examination when he returns to the UK.

Powell had forced his way into coach Shaun Wane's first-team plans after impressing in the opening game of the Super League season against Huddersfield and then during Wigan's warm-up match against New Zealand Warriors last Wednesday.

Wane said: "It is a big blow for Sam, who has worked really hard in pre-season - but with his character I'm sure he will bounce back stronger."