Former Dragons full-back Jay Field was the match-winner, producing two try-saving tackles as Wigan stunned Penrith to a 16-12 victory in the controversial World Club Challenge.
Buoyed by a crowd of 24,091 at a packed DW Stadium, the Warriors ensured the World Club Challenge remains the only trophy that continues to elude the three-time NRL champions.
After a see-saw opening 40 minutes, Penrith led 12-10 at half-time, but Fields scored the only try of the second half with a deft kick from former Newcastle center Joe Wardle.
There was some debate as to whether Wardle had grounded the ball, but the try was conceded and Wigan’s defending was excellent, keeping Penrith in the game until full-time.
Man of the match Bevan French was denied a try that would have sealed the win after halfback Harry Smith’s kick was ruled offside, forcing the Warriors to rely on their defense at the back of the field.
One great try was called back!
After chasing Tyran May into touch, Field made the last tackle of the game to hold down the Panthers center and Wigan celebrated after the video referee confirmed the no-try decision on the field.
Wigan overpowered the Panthers in the 9th minute when Lebanon international and former Manly winger Abbas Miski made his first attack of the game, converting a perfectly placed long ball from 5/8 Bevan French.
Abbas Miski’s try
The Panthers showed patience in the final 30 minutes, sticking to their last-tackle, running-the-ball tactic, and it paid off when star playmaker Nathan Cleary took his first kick near the Wigan line.
The ball bounced off Miski’s shoulder and into the arm of Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny, who passed to Cleary to score.
nathan cleary try
The Frenchman, who scored a record seven tries in Wigan’s 2022 game and 68 tries in 74 Super League games, turned creator again when hooker Cruz Leeming restored the lead in the 33rd minute.
A cut-out pass from the Frenchman sent center Adam Keiglan into space and connected with Miski, who folded the ball back inside to Willy Isa, where Leeming backed up to receive the final pass and score.
cruise reaming try
After missing last year’s WCC with a leg injury, Penrith full-back Dylan Edwards scored in the 39th minute to give the NRL champions a 12-10 lead at half-time, with implications for the 2024 finals. We made sure to give the following.
dylan edwards try
Joe Wardle, the Scotland international center who played for Newcastle Knights in 2017, restored Wigan’s lead with a controversial try in the 53rd minute after falling over from Jay Field’s kick near the Penrith line.
Replays were inconclusive as to whether Wardle had dropped the ball over the try line, but referee Liam Moore ruled it was a try for review, but officials decided there was not enough evidence to overturn the decision. did.
Jake Wardle “Try it”
Panthers center Tyrann May, playing in his first game since suffering a torn ACL in last year’s WCC loss to St. Helens, looked like he was going to score, but the field cornered him. produced a try-saving tackle and forced the Samoan international into a touch.
The crowd roared as the France international raced through to collect England half-back Harry Smith’s scrum-based kick, but the former Parramatta speedster was ruled offside.
It was even more controversial when Maye fell on the final tackle of the game, but Fields managed to get under Maye and claim to Moore that he had supported the Panthers’ center.
A heart-stopping finish
Replays were again inconclusive and the try was disallowed, ensuring the Warriors would repeat their 1991 defeat against Penrith. Penrith have lost all four WCC games the club has played.
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Snapshot matching
- Penrith have never won a World Club Challenge, having lost their last three attempts against Wigan (1991), Bradford (2004) and St Helens (2023).
- The Panthers did not start attacking until nearly 30 minutes into the game, kicking only two times in the first half compared to nine for Wigan.
- Fiji star Sunia Turva injured his foot trying to keep Cleary’s kick in the field and was forced off in the 66th minute.
- Wigan lost interchange hooker Crewe Leeming, who played for the Gold Coast last season, at half-time with an ankle injury he first sustained against Castleford last weekend.
- The Warriors had just 39% of possession compared to Penrith’s 61% and had to defend their own half for much of the game.
- Panthers full-back Dylan Edwards ran a game-high 208 meters with the ball, ahead of winger Tyran May (195 meters) and Wigan center Adam Keiglan (187 meters).
- Penrith co-captain Aysah Yeo (116m) was the only forward to carry the ball for more than 100m, while Wigan were led by Kaide Ellis (85m).
- Kiwi dual international Frano Botica, Wigan’s man of the match at the 1991 WCC, was one of the guests at the match, including former Warriors teammate Dennis Betts and England internationals. Billy Boston, who scored a record 478 tries, was also included. club.
- The Player of the Match award, won by Bevan French, is named after former England forward Bill Ashurst, who played for Wigan and Penrith in the 1970s.
game play
With Penrith leading 16-12, Dylan Edwards sent Tyrann May towards the tryline with a pass into the middle.
However, Jay Field, once considered too light for the NRL, managed to nab him, an exemplary feat that Wigan fans will compare to that achieved by Scott Sattler in the 2003 grand final at Penrith. He tied up the Samoan star with a great tackle.
What a try saver in the field in May!
what they said was
“It was a great game between two great teams. You could see throughout the game what a great team Penrith are. I couldn’t be more proud of the players. We will continue to build on that. “We have to do it. The players were very brave. “The second half. It was a game we won by not giving up. They are an outstanding group of players. I love working with them. They never give up and you could see in that game how much that meant to them.”It took a special effort to get past us tonight, and we wanted it so bad.” did. ”- Wigan manager Matt Peat.
“Wigan took their chances and we didn’t. In the end that might have been the difference. It was a pretty high quality game but congratulations to Wigan. The field position was definitely good in both halves. We were better but we couldn’t put them on.”Away they looked three times and scored three tries.We should feel they can do more, but at the end of the day they needed We were flexible at times and that led to their win. “It was an inch game. It was a great game for the crowd. Unfortunately we didn’t win, but I’m proud of our players. .It’s better to be here and lose than not be here.” – Panthers manager Ivan Cleary.
what’s next
The Panthers will face the Storm at AAMI Park on Friday 8th March in the opening game of the 2024 Telstra Premiership.
Star player No. 5 and No. 8 Jarome Luai is expected to return from a shoulder injury that forced him to watch the World Club Challenge from the DW Stadium grandstand.
Forward Scott Sorensen, who missed WCC with a foot injury, could also be available.
However, Fiji international Sunia Turba will be racing against the clock to get fit after injuring her leg in the second half and not being able to complete the WCC.