Wigan & Brisbane hope 90s can inspire World Club Series win
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Coral-sponsored Wigan are odds-on at 8/13 to beat Australian counterparts Brisbane in the the second match of the World Cup Series.
Joel Tomkins, 2/1 in the anytime market, scored two tries in the 24-16 victory over Huddersfield Giants last time out, and could be vital if Wigan are to overhaul Brisbane.
The boyhood Cherry and Whites fan said: “It’s going to be good. We’ve got a score to settle after the Sydney Roosters and St George games so it’s a big one for the fans, I think they deserve a result from us.”
“It’ll be a great night in Wigan if we get a result against Brisbane it’ll bring back memories of when the team went over there and got a result. I’m sure we’ll be drawing on that and Waney will be talking about that in the build up to the game.
“I think the boys really learnt from the Sydney Roosters game, I think that hit them hard, we’re desperate to put those wrongs right.
Tomkins was in the stands as a fan for the match in 1997, the last time the expanded World Club Series tournament came to British shores, and believes that the tournament can stage a permanent comeback.
“If Super League and the NRL could get their heads together and bring something like that back it would be unbelievable,” he added. “I think this is the first step towards that, I know Saints have sold out and I’m sure we will have a packed house – if the three Super League teams can all get a result then I think it will be huge.”
Down the years there have been some brutal battles between these two sides, who in the early 1990s were considered to be the best two teams in the world. Between 1992 and 1994, Wigan and Brisbane met twice, with the Broncos getting the better of the Lancashire side the first time at Central Park, while two years later, John Monie’s outfit returned the favour down under in an enthralling 20-14 victory.
See below for video coverage of both and enjoy to your heart’s content as we build up to this latest match between the two sides!
1992 World Club Challenge: Wigan 8-22 Brisbane
1994 World Club Challenge: Brisbane 14-20 Wigan
For the visitors, while they don’t have the likes of Kevin Walters and Julian O’Neil available to inspire victory, Daniel Vidot at 9/1 to score first and Justin Hodges at 13/8 to cross anytime can be key.
The home side showed last season that they can score from a number of areas and positions on the pitch, and top scorer for the club in 2014, England winger Josh Charnley is certainly one of those. Brisbane will certainly have to be on their guard and the 23-year-old is 13/2 to breach the in-goal area first, while new England star Dan Sarginson, who will be one to watch this season, is 7/4 in the anytime market.
With the NRL season yet to start, this and the fact that it will be a Warriors home crowd could work in their favour. A winning margin for Shaun Wane’s team of 6-10 points is being offered at 9/2 in what is likely to be a tight game.
