Wigan Warriors' Jake Wardle gives honest verdict on controversial try vs Penrith

25 February 2024 , 17:00

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Wigan's Jake Wardle scores his controversial try (Image: Getty Images)

It’s been dubbed one of the worst decisions in rugby league history but Wigan matchwinner Jake Wardle is having none of it.

The England centre’s hugely controversial 57th minute try proved the difference as they pipped Penrith in Saturday night’s glorious World Club Challenge. When he latched onto Jai Field’s kick, he landed short of the goalline under pressure from desperate Panthers Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards.

But referee Liam Moore sent it up as a try - and video referee Chris Kendall couldn’t find any conclusive evidence to prove otherwise. Yet Wardle, man of the match in Wigan’s Super League Grand Final win to set up this epic bout, insisted: “I actually do think I got it down.

"It was never a double-movement. I think I had the tip of the ball down on the line. And he gave it. That’s all that matters.”

Although NRL premiers Penrith were magnanimous in defeat, the decision from the English referee had plenty of Aussies spewing. That was especially so as Moore sent Taylan May’s last-second effort to level a firecracker of a game up as a no-try. Aussie full-back Field produced a brilliant try-saving tackle on the Penrith centre - his second of a thrilling contest.

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Kendall couldn’t find a clear angle of the ball touching the whitewash so that was ruled out to leave Wigan breathing a huge sigh of relief. It just highlights what a daft rule it is making the on-field referee essentially guess at a decision. But it didn’t take away from an exhilarating event as Wigan became World Club champs for a record-equalling fifth time.

Wardle and co join the heroes of 1987, 1991, 1994 and 2017. Star-studded Penrith, with golden boys Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo unable to make the crucial breakthrough, head home still on a duck after a fourth loss. But Wardle admitted: “It’s probably one of the toughest games I’ve ever played.

Is he over? Jake Wardle scores for Wigan against Penrith (PA Wire)

“I don't think the intensity dropped at all. Usually in games you get that drop of intensity here and there. But Penrith never let us off with anything and just kept coming and coming. Luckily the boys scrambled well - that showed at the end with that tackle.”

Wigan trailed 12-10 at the break with Penrith-born Abbas Miski and Kruise Leeming crossing, Cleary and the brilliant Edwards scoring for the NRL giants. After St Helens beat Penrith in Sydney last year, this was another memorable night for Super League. With speculation growing that the cash-rich NRL is preparing an offer to buy the European competition, the price tag has certainly gone up.

And the World Club Challenge could end up in Las Vegas in 2025. Wardle, 25, said: “We need to get it as big as it can get. There was a sold-out crowd [24,091] here and it was a massive event. When both teams are taking it as seriously as we both were there’s no reason it can’t be a massive event every year.”

David Craven