As it happened: Wigan stun Penrith in controversial World Club Challenge win

WIGAN 16, PENRITH 12

Liam Farrell lifts the trophy for Wigan.Credit: Getty

In this fixture, you need a lot to go your way: Let’s get the most important thing out of the way: Wigan were absolutely sensational and nothing should detract from what was a super performance on a night of high emotion at the DW Stadium. But if you’re Penrith, you’re starting to see why you need a lot to go your way to win this game. The crowd is against you. The conditions are foreign (it was barely four degrees at kick-off). Your opposition has already started their season. The international rules used are tricky. And then there are one or two refereeing/video refereeing decisions which might not fall your way. Let’s put aside Taylan May’s no try call in the last second and concentrate on Wigan centre Jake Wardle’s second-half try, the only score of the second half, which proved to be the matchwinner. It’s hard to see how the ball got to the line, and why referee Liam Moore sent it upstairs on the field as a try. “I didn’t see the ball over the line on that one,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said. But as Cleary said, Wigan executed better - and for that no one should begrudge them this win.

This game means so much to the English: The pre-game pomp and ceremony from the hosts celebrating their previous World Club Challenge triumphs showed what the concept means to them. It’s always been a chance to prove Super League’s best is more than capable of matching it with the cashed-up and high-profile NRL. The emphasis they place on the game is unprecedented, even from putting a patch on the jerseys they wore on Sunday morning (AEDT) commemorating the score from their last World Club Challenge win over Penrith. No matter what NRL sides might say, there’s always a bit of an extra kick from English teams when it comes to the World Club Challenge.

The Super League can restart NRL careers: Would anyone be surprised to see Bevan French and Jai Field back in the NRL at some point? Both left Australia as young talents who couldn’t bed down a permanent spot in an NRL side, but have been super for Wigan. With age on their side, it’s possible for both to return to the NRL one day. French might be the more likely of the two given he’s now developed into a measured five-eighth, who identified Penrith’s potential weakness on their left edge defence to set up two first-half tries. The Man Of Steel has openly said he wants another crack at the NRL one day - it might be sooner rather than later. Field produced two super try-saving tackles and set up Wardle’s winner with a deft grubber.

There were a few controversial moments from the game, particularly with 50-50 refereeing calls. In the studio back in Australia, the pundits reckon the Jake Wardle try after halftime should not be have been declared a try by the referee Liam Moore, before going to the video referee for a check.

In the Nine commentary, Phil Gould was gobsmacked watching the replays.

“He came down a long way short of the line. You could build a block of units between the ball and the line,” Gould said.

“He hasn’t got anywhere near the line. He hasn’t got anywhere near the line. He’s a fibber.“

Over on FoxSports, the post-match review agreed.

Braith Anasta: “Jimmy I do not know how he could award that a try, or go up with a try, there. He wasn’t in a good position. He couldn’t see the ball go down onto the ground.”

James Graham: “He couldn’t, and he’s made an assumption. I guess that’s in the wording isn’t it? Send up it as a try, versus the moment in the dying moments where he sends it up as no-try. You could make a strong case for them to be the opposite. You could probably send both up as ‘I have got no-try’. I don’t know if that ball (Wardle’s try) gets to the line.”

Anasta: “That’s a no-try.”

Joe Wardle try in the Penrith club challengeCredit: FoxSports

Where to for the Panthers now?

For the second year in a row, they’ve lost the World Club Challenge when most people thought they’d be able to handle their English rivals.

I reckon this one will sting a bit more, though. They’ll be regretting the first half when they were caught in possession on the last tackle six times inside Wigan’s 30-metre area.

I reckon Ivan Cleary will want to look at his back row a bit more too. If there’s one area where they might lack a bit of depth, that might be it.

Taylan May takes the ball into the Wigan defence.Credit: Getty

The Bill Ashurst Medal as player of the match goes to Bevan French. No complaints here. I think we’ll see him back in the NRL when the time is right, but what a sensation he’s been for Wigan in the Super League.

He played a hand in both of Wigan’s first-half tries and almost scored the winner off the set play from the scrum. Absolute pace to burn.

Jack Cole is brought down by Bevan French.Credit: Getty

Taylan May seemed convinced he had scored that try after Tyrone Peachey had popped the pass to him. His teammates celebrated immediately. As the replay kept going over and over again on the big screen, they seemed less certain. Nathan Cleary walked over to the referee to get some clarity. He had initially ruled no try on the field. It wasn’t to be for three-time NRL premiers.

You should have heard to the roar when the decision was flashed up on the screen. What a great advertisement for rugby league and the English game.

A bit of Tina Turner and Simply The Best reverberating throughout the DW at the moment.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Taylan May has thinks he has scored for the Panthers as the hooter sounds. It will give Nathan Cleary a kick to win the World Club Challenge from the sideline if he has...

The video referee is taking an eternity to look at it. Is it down? Is he out first?

NO TRY. Wigan win!

What a game.

Harry Smith has knocked the ball on trying to dive on a loose pill. Penrith has a scrum 25 metres out from the Wigan line. The World Club Challenge will be decided here.

Two minutes left. The noise is deafening. Can Nathan Cleary find another miracle?

Wigan 16, Penrith 12 after 78 minutes.

The crowd has just been announced as 24,091. Four minutes left. Wigan is almost there. They’ve had so many heroes tonight. Can they hold on?

Wigan 16, Penrith 12 after 76 minutes.

Is that it? Wigan are celebrating what they believe might be the try to clinch the World Club Challenge.

They have a scrum right on half-way, but as Harry Smith kicks on the very first play and Bevan French races through to score, the referee sends it upstairs. He’s offside by a tiny fraction. Can you believe it? The crowd was going absolutely bonkers after he touched down.

Only seven minutes left now. What do Penrith have left in their kitbag?