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Journey Man
Roosters v St Helens, Broncos v Wigan, Cowboys v Leeds — the ultimate guide to the World Club Series, including teams, TV times and fixtures
The Cowboys will be making their first appearance in the UK since the disastrous World Club Challenge tournament the Australian Super League competition staged in 1997 while the Roosters and Broncos are the two most successful Australian teams in the history of cross-hemisphere matches.
On the European side, Wigan and Leeds have both won three World Club Challenges while St Helenes have two wins from six appearances.
With all three Australian sides taking close to full strength contingents, we’ve got all the key information about the grandest of pre-season tournaments.
Game 1: St Helens v Sydney Roosters
What time does the game start? 7am AEDT Saturday at Langtree Park, St Helens. TV: Live on GEM, Replay FOX1 Saturday 9pm
What are the squads?
St Helens: Tommy Makinson, Jordan Turner, Adam Swift, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Alex Walmsley, Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lama Tasi, Greg Richards, Andre Savelio, Luke Thompson, Dominique Peyroux, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Jack Owens, Morgan Knowles
Roosters: Mitchell Aubusson, Joe Burgess, Dale Copley, Kane Evans, Blake Ferguson, Mitchell Frei, Jake Friend, Aidan Guerra, Jackson Hastings, Ian Henderson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Vincent Leuluai, Isaac Liu, Latrell Mitchell, Sam Moa, Dylan Napa, Jayden Nikorima, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Daniel Tupou.
Who do I know from St Helens? The Saints have been one of the best teams in Super League for years and won the title in 2014 but they’ve experienced a real exodus of talent in the last two seasons. They were smacked 44-10 by Salford in their last match and will be without hooker James Roby, arguably their best player and definitely the most recognisable Saint to Australian fans.
Veteran backrower Jon Wilkin will lead the side and they have some firepower in fullback Johny Lomax and winger Tommy Makinson while Alex Walmsley, who was nominated for the Man of Steel award in 2015, will lead the forward pack. In terms of ex-NRL talent the Saints boast former Knights and Penrith halfback Luke Walsh, back-rowers Dominique Peyroux and Atelea Vea, prop Lama Tasi, fullback Shannon McDonnell and the wild Travis Burns, who has spent much of the start of the season in the reserves.
Player to watch: Joe Burgess is certain to make his proper Roosters debut in this fixture and the big winger will be keen to show British fans what they’ll be missing. A bulldozing, try-scoring specialist, Burgess will take up residence on the right wing and look to stamp himself immediately.
What’s the tip? Roosters 24-4
Given the tumultuous off-season the Roosters have endured it may be a surprise to see them as favourites, but St Helens have endured a torrid start to their Super League campaign. They were thrashed by the underwhelming Salford Red Devils last weekend and will likely struggle to deal with the Roosters’ power game in the middle of the field. If young halves Jayden Nikorima and Jackson Hastings can build pressure, the Roosters should be able to grind out a result.
Game 2: Wigan Warriors v Brisbane Broncos
What time does the game start? 7am AEDT (6am Qld time) Sunday at DB Stadium, Wigan. TV: Live on GEM, Replay FOX1 Sunday 7:30pm
What are the squads?
Wigan: TBA
Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd, 2. Greg Eden, 3. Jordan Kahu, 4. James Roberts, 5. Corey Oates, 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Kodi Nikorima, 8. Sam Thaiday, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Adam Blair, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker. Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace, 15. Josh McGuire, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Travis Waddell, 18. Herman Ese’ese, 19. Tom Opacic
Who do I know from Wigan? The Cherry and Whites back homegrown talent more than most and boast just four former NRL players. Sam Tomkins returns after an ill-fated stint with the Warriors, former Cronulla forward Taulima Tautai has become a mainstay in the middle of the field, former Eels prop Lee Mossop is running around and one-time Melbourne centre Willie Isa joined the club this season from Widnes. Another NRL product, burly centre Anthony Gelling, was a mainstay of the Roosters junior ranks but was sacked before he made his debut. With young English stars like Josh Charnley, Dan Sarginson, Liam Farrell and Test skipperSean O’Loughlin in the side, Wigan look to be the most competitive of the three Super League sides.
Player to watch: New recruit James Roberts was kept quiet in the All Stars match and Wayne Bennett has warned that the flashy centre will take time to find his feet, but when he does it will be absolutely spectacular. Roberts can tear any defence apart on his day and if Wigan aren’t careful he could cut them to pieces with his speed and evasion.
What’s the tip? Broncos 16-14
Wigan have the best shot of any of the Super League teams at snatching victory and the loss of Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt to suspension is a real blow. While Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford are both slashing runners of the football the Broncos will lack a quality kicking game and given Wigan’s potent backline that could tip the scales in the Riversiders’ favour. However, Brisbane are still stacked with classy players from top to bottom and their devestating backline should be able to produce enough points to win.
Game 3: Leeds Rhinos v North Queensland Cowboys
What time does the game start? 6am AEDT (5am Qld time) Monday at Headingley Stadium, Leeds. TV: Live on GEM, Replay FOX1 Monday 8:30pm
What are the squads?
Leeds: TBA
Cowboys: TBA
Who do I know from Leeds? The Rhinos are coming off one of the best seasons in their history and in 2015 became just the third team in the Super League era to win the Challenge Cup, Super League Leaders Shield and the grand final in a single year. They’ve won six titles in the last 10 seasons and their seven Super League championships, the most of anyone in the league, have all come in the last 12 years. They’ve also won the last two Challenge Cups, the latest of which was a record 50-0 flogging of Hull KR, the biggest defeat in a final in the 124-year history of the competition.
However, Leeds have hit a little rough patch to get the season under way. They were smacked 56-12 by Widnes over the weekend and lost Tom Briscoe, Carl Ablett and Ashton Golding to injury and with captain Danny McGuire, veteran back-rowers Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Stevie Ward and NRL recruit Beau Falloon already on the sidelines they’ll be down to a bare bones unit this weekend. They’ll still have the services of Zak Hardaker, the reigning Man of Steel winner and the best fullback in England as well as centre Kallum Watkins and winger Ryan Hall, who are also among the best in the world at their positions. The Rhinos boast several ex-NRL stalwarts including Joel Moon, Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt andBrett Delaney.
Player to watch: In one of the most improbable things to happen in rugby league,Adam Cuthbertson has transformed into an elite front-rower since joining Leeds in 2015. Always an offloading savant in the NRL, Cuthbertson never really realised his potential in a nomadic eight-year career in the NRL but was a contender for the Man of Steel last season and could earn an England call-up sooner rather than later due to his Pommy heritage. Look for him to make a big impact on Monday morning.
What’s the tip? North Queensland 40-12
This one could get ugly. Leeds’ title defence has gotten off to a rotten start and they were smacked around by Widnes last weekend, conceding 10 tries and looking nothing like the powerful outfit who won the treble last season. They’ve been ripped apart by injuries while the Cowboys are tipped to unleash the exact team that toppled Brisbane in the decider last October. If Leeds can’t get their act together we could be looking at a record-breaking World Club Challenge scoreline.
- 21 hours ago
- by NICK CAMPTON
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
The Cowboys will be making their first appearance in the UK since the disastrous World Club Challenge tournament the Australian Super League competition staged in 1997 while the Roosters and Broncos are the two most successful Australian teams in the history of cross-hemisphere matches.
On the European side, Wigan and Leeds have both won three World Club Challenges while St Helenes have two wins from six appearances.
With all three Australian sides taking close to full strength contingents, we’ve got all the key information about the grandest of pre-season tournaments.
Game 1: St Helens v Sydney Roosters
What time does the game start? 7am AEDT Saturday at Langtree Park, St Helens. TV: Live on GEM, Replay FOX1 Saturday 9pm
What are the squads?
St Helens: Tommy Makinson, Jordan Turner, Adam Swift, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Alex Walmsley, Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lama Tasi, Greg Richards, Andre Savelio, Luke Thompson, Dominique Peyroux, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Jack Owens, Morgan Knowles
Roosters: Mitchell Aubusson, Joe Burgess, Dale Copley, Kane Evans, Blake Ferguson, Mitchell Frei, Jake Friend, Aidan Guerra, Jackson Hastings, Ian Henderson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Vincent Leuluai, Isaac Liu, Latrell Mitchell, Sam Moa, Dylan Napa, Jayden Nikorima, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Daniel Tupou.
Who do I know from St Helens? The Saints have been one of the best teams in Super League for years and won the title in 2014 but they’ve experienced a real exodus of talent in the last two seasons. They were smacked 44-10 by Salford in their last match and will be without hooker James Roby, arguably their best player and definitely the most recognisable Saint to Australian fans.
Veteran backrower Jon Wilkin will lead the side and they have some firepower in fullback Johny Lomax and winger Tommy Makinson while Alex Walmsley, who was nominated for the Man of Steel award in 2015, will lead the forward pack. In terms of ex-NRL talent the Saints boast former Knights and Penrith halfback Luke Walsh, back-rowers Dominique Peyroux and Atelea Vea, prop Lama Tasi, fullback Shannon McDonnell and the wild Travis Burns, who has spent much of the start of the season in the reserves.
Player to watch: Joe Burgess is certain to make his proper Roosters debut in this fixture and the big winger will be keen to show British fans what they’ll be missing. A bulldozing, try-scoring specialist, Burgess will take up residence on the right wing and look to stamp himself immediately.
What’s the tip? Roosters 24-4
Given the tumultuous off-season the Roosters have endured it may be a surprise to see them as favourites, but St Helens have endured a torrid start to their Super League campaign. They were thrashed by the underwhelming Salford Red Devils last weekend and will likely struggle to deal with the Roosters’ power game in the middle of the field. If young halves Jayden Nikorima and Jackson Hastings can build pressure, the Roosters should be able to grind out a result.
Game 2: Wigan Warriors v Brisbane Broncos
What time does the game start? 7am AEDT (6am Qld time) Sunday at DB Stadium, Wigan. TV: Live on GEM, Replay FOX1 Sunday 7:30pm
What are the squads?
Wigan: TBA
Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd, 2. Greg Eden, 3. Jordan Kahu, 4. James Roberts, 5. Corey Oates, 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Kodi Nikorima, 8. Sam Thaiday, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Adam Blair, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker. Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace, 15. Josh McGuire, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Travis Waddell, 18. Herman Ese’ese, 19. Tom Opacic
Who do I know from Wigan? The Cherry and Whites back homegrown talent more than most and boast just four former NRL players. Sam Tomkins returns after an ill-fated stint with the Warriors, former Cronulla forward Taulima Tautai has become a mainstay in the middle of the field, former Eels prop Lee Mossop is running around and one-time Melbourne centre Willie Isa joined the club this season from Widnes. Another NRL product, burly centre Anthony Gelling, was a mainstay of the Roosters junior ranks but was sacked before he made his debut. With young English stars like Josh Charnley, Dan Sarginson, Liam Farrell and Test skipperSean O’Loughlin in the side, Wigan look to be the most competitive of the three Super League sides.
Player to watch: New recruit James Roberts was kept quiet in the All Stars match and Wayne Bennett has warned that the flashy centre will take time to find his feet, but when he does it will be absolutely spectacular. Roberts can tear any defence apart on his day and if Wigan aren’t careful he could cut them to pieces with his speed and evasion.
What’s the tip? Broncos 16-14
Wigan have the best shot of any of the Super League teams at snatching victory and the loss of Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt to suspension is a real blow. While Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford are both slashing runners of the football the Broncos will lack a quality kicking game and given Wigan’s potent backline that could tip the scales in the Riversiders’ favour. However, Brisbane are still stacked with classy players from top to bottom and their devestating backline should be able to produce enough points to win.
Game 3: Leeds Rhinos v North Queensland Cowboys
What time does the game start? 6am AEDT (5am Qld time) Monday at Headingley Stadium, Leeds. TV: Live on GEM, Replay FOX1 Monday 8:30pm
What are the squads?
Leeds: TBA
Cowboys: TBA
Who do I know from Leeds? The Rhinos are coming off one of the best seasons in their history and in 2015 became just the third team in the Super League era to win the Challenge Cup, Super League Leaders Shield and the grand final in a single year. They’ve won six titles in the last 10 seasons and their seven Super League championships, the most of anyone in the league, have all come in the last 12 years. They’ve also won the last two Challenge Cups, the latest of which was a record 50-0 flogging of Hull KR, the biggest defeat in a final in the 124-year history of the competition.
However, Leeds have hit a little rough patch to get the season under way. They were smacked 56-12 by Widnes over the weekend and lost Tom Briscoe, Carl Ablett and Ashton Golding to injury and with captain Danny McGuire, veteran back-rowers Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Stevie Ward and NRL recruit Beau Falloon already on the sidelines they’ll be down to a bare bones unit this weekend. They’ll still have the services of Zak Hardaker, the reigning Man of Steel winner and the best fullback in England as well as centre Kallum Watkins and winger Ryan Hall, who are also among the best in the world at their positions. The Rhinos boast several ex-NRL stalwarts including Joel Moon, Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt andBrett Delaney.
Player to watch: In one of the most improbable things to happen in rugby league,Adam Cuthbertson has transformed into an elite front-rower since joining Leeds in 2015. Always an offloading savant in the NRL, Cuthbertson never really realised his potential in a nomadic eight-year career in the NRL but was a contender for the Man of Steel last season and could earn an England call-up sooner rather than later due to his Pommy heritage. Look for him to make a big impact on Monday morning.
What’s the tip? North Queensland 40-12
This one could get ugly. Leeds’ title defence has gotten off to a rotten start and they were smacked around by Widnes last weekend, conceding 10 tries and looking nothing like the powerful outfit who won the treble last season. They’ve been ripped apart by injuries while the Cowboys are tipped to unleash the exact team that toppled Brisbane in the decider last October. If Leeds can’t get their act together we could be looking at a record-breaking World Club Challenge scoreline.
