MORRIS RULES ROOST
Star Aussie a sure Brett to dash Warriors’ dream
Wigan Warriors 8 Sydney Roosters 20
ADRIAN LAM admitted Wigan’s sloppy start cost them as Brett Morris’ first-half hat-trick put paid to their hopes of a record fifth World Club Challenge win.
The Warriors’ rich history in the competition has been built on steely resolve in iconic wins over the likes of Manly in 1987 and Brisbane in 1994.
But there was little of evidence that when Morris escaped their defence three times in the space of 29 first-half minutes to establish a match-winning lead.
Lam’s team – to their considerable credit – dragged themselves back into an often gripping clash with smart finishes by wingers Tom Davies and Liam Marshall.
But they had left themselves with too much of a mountain to climb, and Daniel Tupou’s late try sealed matters, with Liam Farrell suffering a suspected torn bicep to deepen Wigan woes.
Lam said: “It was a lot better second half but we just let a couple of soft tries in at the start. That’s three poor starts this year and it’s not good enough.
“But I was proud of the efforts and we’re going to get smarter.”
Lam’s counterpart Trent Robinson had made it clear his side would be taking the competition seriously, and so it proved as they moved level with Wigan on four World Club Challenge wins.
Robinson said: “That was really tough. The boys stood tall and had to scrap and fight hard to find a way to get out of it.”
On the performance of Morris, on debut with his new club, Robinson added: “The stuff he did at the start of the game was very special.”
Kangaroos international Morris clinched a second man of the match award in this competition, having scored twice in St George Illawarra’s 2011 win on the same ground.
He said: “There’s something about this field I really love, and I think I showed my new team-mates what I can do.”
Morris did that in the third minute, as he shrugged off Oliver Gildart and Thomas Leuluai to score, before stretching out despite the attention of four Wigan defenders for his second.
Wigan winger Davies responded after a smart Gildart pass but it was 4-14 at the break when Morris took a long ball from the excellent Luke Keary.
The home side raised hopes of a memorable comeback when Marshall picked a George Williams pass off his toes and finished superbly in the corner.
But Keary kicked for Tupou to clinch a ninth Australian win in the last 11 of these clashes.