Brett blasts Wigan away
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 seven years later.
But there was little of that in evidence when Morris escaped the home defence three times in the space of 29 first-half minutes to establish a match-winning lead.
To their considerable credit, Lam’s team 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 for the Sydney Roosters.
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 against teams like this it’s not good enough.
“But I was proud of the efforts and we’re going to get smarter with what we’re doing. There are some positives moving forward.”
Lam’s counterpart Trent Robinson had made it clear in the build-up that 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. It was a really good game.”
On the performance of Morris – on debut with his new club – Robinson said: “The stuff he did at the start of the game was very special. It got us that early lead and gave us a buffer.”
Kangaroos international Morris clinched a second man-of-the-match award in this competition, having scored twice in St George Illawarra’s 2011 win, also at the DW Stadium.
“There’s something about this field I really love,” he said. “I enjoy playing over here in England, the crowds always get you fired up for these big games and I managed to be in the right place at the right time here.
“I was just given a job to do and I certainly tried my best tonight. Coming into the club I wanted to impress the boys and I think I showed them what I can do.”
Morris did that for the first time in the third minute, when 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 then responded after a smart Gildart pass.
And Wigan fans were on their feet when hooker Sam Powell was tackled high and late by prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. But the big Kiwi international got away with a lecture from referee Robert Hicks
It became 14-4 at the break when Morris took a long ball from the excellent Luke Keary to complete his treble.
The Warriors raised hopes of a memorable comeback when Marshall picked a George Williams pass off his toes and finished superbly in the corner to close the gap to eight points.
The Roosters were forced into some desperate defence to keep their line intact, but Lam’s side could not find another way through, and Keary kicked for Tupou to clinch a ninth Australian win in the last 11 of these clashes.
WIGAN – Tries: Davies, Marshall.
SYDNEY – Tries: Morris (3), Tupou. Goals: Taukeiaho (2).