´óÏó´«Ã½

Some hard-hitting drives, notably from Tony Clubb, put Wigan within 10 but more suffocating line-speed turns them back.

However, Jake Friend gets wrapped up in a ruck again and it's another Wigan penalty.

You know the drill... penalty, penalty... ?

The second hit on Liam Farrell was a proper flop by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Wigan put the penalty to touch and NOW they're in range...

Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves sparks the first broooooha with a missile of a late hit. Poor Sam Powell on the receiving end. Then smashed Liam Farrell.

It's all going off...

Defensive win for Wigan. They were really hitting up hard off the line, rapid linespeed, which forces an error in attack from the Roosters.

Before that, Jake Friend was held out just a couple of metres out.

Now it's the Chooks handing over a penalty, and Friend at fault for a high shot.

Image source, Getty Images

Jay Freeman
´óÏó´«Ã½ Sport at DW Stadium

"The tries are coming thick and fast in the early stages. What had been an absolutely raucous home crowd at the DW Stadium has been silence by two moments of class from Brett Morris.

"You have to hope Wigan can get something out of this match and soon.

"The home faithful want a game on their hands and as yet, they've just played into the Roosters' hands."

Another thumping hit by a Rooster, this time from Mitch Aubusson, forces an error in the subsequent play-the-ball from Ben Flower.

Chooks get the scrum. It was a decent set before that from the home side.

On the back though, they Roosters have chewed up 40 metres for fun... penalty against Wigan.

Another set of six... 10 away!

Wigan desperate for a foothold here.

Roosters are either scoring off their sets, or finishing with Wigan having to come out of their own 10. They're winning the field position battle.

Wigan therefore are getting through so much energy in just trying to clear their lines.

Better set finish here... the kick comes down on the Roosters 10 metre line and James Tedesco is immediately put under pressure.

Wigan got to the end of the set, and a steepling kick goes almost vertically before bouncing in midfield. Liam Farrell who gets to it is called offside by Robert Hicks.

Hicks was in the Warriors fans bad books a moment before that, after a late shot on Zak Hardaker.

Roosters come forward again...

Wigan can't afford to give Easts chances like that...

Completion is high from the Roosters, so are the metres made by the forwards. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukieaho are steaming in.

It's could be a long night for Wigan.

Jon Wilkin
Ex-World Club Challenge winner with St Helens on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 live sports extra

He caught the Wigan defence having a moment off.

When you are up against a player with the strength and speed of Morris you can't have a moment like that. Wigan need to make those tackles against players of such quality.

It is a great start by the Roosters.

The first few carries have been rock solid from the Roosters, carted in with savagery.

They boot it on the end of their set and Wigan get their first dibs 10 out... fierce resistance though from the Chooks.

Matt Ikavalu does a stunning job of stopping a dangerous kick going on, it was like he was balanced on a tightrope.

I wonder how they're finding the weather? I went to Sydney in 'winter' and it was 25C every day... this will be positively Baltic by comparison.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Both teams are ready. The DW is throbbing with energy and passion.

Two high-quality teams, in the words of Brian Noble, are going to bash each other.

Don't we just love it. Here we go.

Our man in the middle tonight - under Super League laws and regulations - is Robert Hicks. He's proven to be the ref for the big occasion with Test matches and domestic finals under his belt.

Billy Boston looks on... my word Wigan would love to have him bombing up the wing. Scourge of the Kangaroos in the past.

Some beauties he scored for Great Britain at the old Sydney Cricket Ground, which will be the Roosters' home ground this season with Allianz now rubble...

Already we have had a prediction come through...

Kyle: Cooper Cronk vs George Williams is some match-up. For Wigan to win he has to have a brilliant game and at least equal Cronk which will be some ask. I think Sydney will win it easily 28-8. They have to much quality all over the board

Which way do you see this one going today? Do you agree with Kyle, or do we have an upset to look forward to?

Get involved by using the #bbcrl hashtag on Twitter.

Fireworks shoot out up into the night sky... fire squirts from around the field, as Wigan's proud Warriors come forth from the tunnel to a bumper roar.

The atmosphere is absolutely outstanding.

We're not far off. Spot of 'Jerusalem' now. Wonderful.

It's almost upon us... the teams are out of the sheds.

They're waiting to hit the turf.

We've got all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with a game like this... anthems to come.

It's hotting up now.

Wigan: Hardaker; Davies, Gildart, Sarginson, Marshall; Williams, Leuluai; Clubb, Powell, Flower, Greenwood, Farrell, O'Loughlin.

Interchanges: Navarrete, Isa, Hamlin, Bullock.

Easts: Tedesco; Tupou, Manu, Morris, Ikuvalu; Keary, Cronk; Waerea-Hargreaves, Friend, Taukeiaho, Cordner, Aubusson, Radley.

Interchanges: I. Liu, Tetevano, Collins, Butcher.

Referee: Robert Hicks (RFL)

Image source, Getty Images/SWPIX.COM

While Cooper Cronk picked up the headlines for Sydney Roosters in 2018, his lesser-known halves partner Luke Keary was an equally important figure.

The 27-year-old scored five tries, but most importantly created 21 for his team-mates in 2018 and only Johnathan Thurston had a hand in more scores in the entire NRL.

His tussle with George Williams will be a really interesting one, as the England international has a similar guiding hand in Wigan's attack.

He scored six tries and made 22 for his teammates last season, alongside interchanging halves partners Sam Powell and Tommy Leuluai.