Centre Michael Jennings scored a hat-trick of tries as Australian champions Sydney Roosters won the World Club Challenge 36-14 over England’s Wigan Warriors in Sydney on Saturday.
Jennings, the New South Wales Origin centre who claimed the premiership-sealing try in last year’s National Rugby League grand final, became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Club Challenge (WCC) match.
Jennings scored two tries as the Roosters led 18-0 at halftime.
He scored again in the 49th minute to put the Roosters ahead 24-4 after Joe Burgess scored Wigan’s opening try four minutes after the resumption.
It was Australia’s second successive win in the WCC following Melbourne Storm’s 18-14 win over Leeds Rhinos in England last year.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said he was pleased with his side’s effort in their first hit-out ahead of the new NRL season.
“We were physical but we lacked execution, that’s normal this time of the year,” Robinson said.
“There were some good parts and some awkward parts. We have better football ahead of us.
“For the most part we defended well. The most pleasing part was that we are physical. We went after them. I think they felt the pressure for a lot of the game.”
Wigan coach Shaun Wane could see few positives in his side’s performance.
“We were poor, the best team won. They are the world champions,” Wane said.
“When you complete (tackle sets) at 67 percent you don’t give yourself a chance to win.
“We undersold ourselves out there. We didn’t give a good account of ourselves.
“It’s definitely hard to beat a team like that when you play like that.”
In an exciting, at times error-ridden, encounter before 31,515 fans, the Roosters dominated from the outset after Jennings palmed off Josh Charnley to score.
Sam Moa crashed over in the 13th minute after clever play from Jake Friend, before Jennings pounced on a loose ball in the in-goal.
Wigan had more possession in the second half and made it more of a contest after two tries to Charnley, closing the gap to 24-14 after 60 minutes.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves put the result beyond doubt when he crashed over from close range to give his side an unassailable 16-point lead with 12 minutes remaining.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall then crossed out wide to ease the Roosters home.
It was only the second WCC match played in Australia after Wigan beat the Brisbane Broncos 20-14 in 1994.