World Club Challenge: Warrington's Joel Monaghan wary of Josh Dugan against St George Illawarra

Joel Monaghan has warned Warrington to beware his old friend Josh Dugan when they face St George Illawarra on Friday.

Monaghan will be captain for the opening game of the World Club Challenge as the Wolves aim to strike an early blow for Super League in the expanded six-team series.

And the Australian says his team-mates have more to worry about than just star backs Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall.

"He's a real good mate," Monaghan said of Dugan, his former Canberra team-mate tipped to start as New South Wales full-back in the State of Origin. "He grew up 10 minutes from where I grew up and I watched him come up from the age of 15 at the Raiders.

"He's a special player. On his day there is no better full-back with the ball in his hands. He'll be a tough one to handle and, with Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall, they're the three main dangers."

Monaghan was given the Warrington captaincy at the start of the season, and he said: "It's a massive honour to be named captain, especially for a concept like this. We want to kick this off in style by going out in front of a packed house and doing a job.

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"The three English teams week to week don't like each other at all but I think this weekend they will be hoping each other wins. But we're under no illusions, they are three quality NRL sides there."

'Advantage'

Brisbane take on Wigan on Saturday before NRL champions South Sydney face Grand Final winners St Helens on Sunday, and St George's former Bradford hooker Heath L'Estrange has been briefing his compatriots on what to expect from the home supporters.

"It's definitely worth a few points start," he said of the English clubs' home advantage. "That's why I took a few of the boys to Bradford versus Leigh last Sunday, to try and get them accustomed to the chanting and the singing.

"I loved it over here and I've been tipping the boys up about how passionate the fans are and how they get behind their team because plenty haven't been to England before. It's really something to take in and it's good as long as the ref doesn't buy into it too much."

L'Estrange is well-placed to compare the merits of the two leagues, and he said: "They're on a par. I know a lot of people say Super League is not as big or as tough as the NRL but it is.

"I'd like to see those blokes come and spend a year here and go through what we go through in the off season and the Challenge Cup and all that. It's a tough year."

Watch the World Club Challenge live on Sky Sports, starting with Warrington-St George Illawarra on Friday night. Coverage begins at 7.30pm on Sky Sports 1.