Wednesday 15 February 2017 19:31, UK
Wigan's physical approach can hurt Cronulla but they must make it count on the scoreboard, says Barrie McDermott.
I saw a comment made by Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan in the media this week where he was asked about the yellow card situation for striking.
Over in Australia, it is an automatic yellow card for a punch whereas that is not the case in Super League. His response was interesting to me.
"If they want to get fiery, I've got the team to handle that," said Flanagan.
When I read that, my immediate thought was that he was laying down a challenge to the Wigan forwards. And if I thought it was a challenge, I can only imagine what the likes of Tony Clubb, Joel Tomkins, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala and Ben Flower thought about it.
If I had my guess, I'd say it made the hair on the back of their necks bristle a bit. It did mine.
If they want to get fiery, I've got the team to handle that.
Any team that Shaun Wane coaches will play with physicality, and that sharp edge can do some real damage to opposition sides. These games come round once a year but as a player, you may only get one chance to play in a World Club Series, so there's no doubting the Warriors are up for the game and will come out firing - that's their DNA.
What Wigan have to do is make sure they don't hurt their own cause in the process. Take it to Cronulla, but be the first team to get back to rugby league if it does spill over.
Wigan's typically physical nature must be used to hurt the opposition, not themselves. Flanagan could be double bluffing; he may have made those comments to purposefully distract and goad the Warriors into thinking about fighting rather than playing.
It's not a balance I always got right as a player! But it will be a mark of the maturity of this Warriors squad if they are able to play physically while still beating the Sharks where it counts; on the scoreboard.
I say it's a tough balance because on the one hand, you don't want to roll out the red carpet for the likes of Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis, who in my opinion are two of the best forwards of the modern era. They are world-class players and will walk all over you if you do.
On the other hand, you don't want to go out throwing punches while your opponents are filling their boots at the other end of the pitch scoring tries.
Contrast in conditions
One thing that will always be in the favour of Super League sides in the World Club Series is the weather. While the Australians are used to plenty of sunshine and dry conditions at this time of year, over here in February the ball is wet, the turf is slippery and the wind keeps full-backs guessing with every high ball.
What I want to see from the Wigan players is that they give Cronulla the same welcome that the Sharks will get from the weather: bad enough that they don't feel welcome, but not so bad that the game has to be called off!
With that said, I am happy to see that there have been conversations in the media to get this game hyped up. When the stadiums are full, the fans can then create a hostile atmosphere that the players thrive in.
It certainly gets the juices going when you read about this stuff and it adds plenty of layers to an already intriguing clash between two differing styles and leagues.
Super League needs a victory in the World Club Series, that's for certain. The players know that they are representing more than just their clubs when they play in these games, and I'm sure they will be more than ready for the challenge that awaits.
