The opening game of the World Club Series got underway at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium as Warrington Wolves looked to get Super League off to a winning start against St George Illawara Dragons.

The Wolves were without the inspirational Stefan Ratchford, out with a shoulder injury, and Tony Smith had brought in Gary Wheeler at full back. The visitors, in pre-season mode, looked an exciting prospect with Gareth Widdop, Benji Marshall, Ben Creagh and the man mountain Elo Nabuli on the wing.

With the game being played under Super League rules and Ben Thaler on the whistle the stage was set for a cracking game.

And we weren't disappointed.

The dream opening was gifted to the Aussie side when Ashton Sims dropped the ball inside his own twenty. Frizell walked in a simple try and Widdop added the conversion. There was just over a minute on the clock.

Warrington came close to opening their account after nine but as Laithwaite went for the corner he was brilliantly held up by Nabuli, but three minutes later and O'Brien sold two dummies to the St George Illawara tacklers as he dropped the shoulder and crossed from forty metres for a sensational solo try. He added the extras and the scores were all square.

As we approached the end of the first quarter Gareth Widdop showed why he is so highly rated in both hemispheres, as a superb kick through was grounded by a lunging Thompson, just ahead of Joel Monaghan. Widdop goaled again with his dependable boot, and the Wire trailed by six.

On twenty-eight the game looked like it might be swinging in Warringtons favour as Nabuli flew into a tackle on Penny, appearing to contact with his neck and flooring him. Thaler consulted his touch judges but simply awarded a penalty, Nabuli lucky to stay on the field.

The Wolves took advantage of the penalty and on the half-hour mark Ryan Atkins spun over the line to ground. O'Brien missed with his conversion attempt but it was enough to narrow the margin to two points as the teams turned around.

The opening twenty of the second half was evenly matched but another reckless tackle by the Aussies, this time in the form of Benji Marshall, gifted a two point penalty to O'Brien to level the scores at 12-12. Again the Dragon was lucky to be left on the field.

The game was set up for a brilliant last twenty but swung in the Australians favour on sixty-two when a delightful reverse kick from Marshall was collected and scored by Dugan. Widdop kicked the extras for 18-12.

Warrington had a golden opportunity to get back level after Monaghan was blocked chasing a kick by Nielsen but they couldn't find their way over the whitewash as Monaghan fumbled the ball with the line begging.

Benji Marshall missed a one-pointer attempt on seventy-six but the Australians held on until the final hooter to seal a six point win and give the visitors a one-nil lead in the series.

This was a great game which for the most part was played in great spirit by two teams who wanted open football with no quarter asked or given. Nabuli and Marshall benefitted from the referee seemingly forgetting to pocket his cards, but in the end it made for a great thirteen aside spectacle.

Lets hope that Wigan and Brisbane can serve up an equally tasty dish at the DW Stadium tomorrow night.

Warrington: Wheeler, Evans R., Monaghan, Atkins, Penny, O'Brien, Myler, Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Laithwaite, Westwood. Subs: Bridge, Harrison, Higham, England.

St George Illawara: Marshall, Dugan, Nabuli, O'Brien, Farrell, Rein, Thompson, Ah Mau, Frizell, Widdop, Creagh, Nightingale, Nielsen. Subs: Merin, de Belin, Marketo, Rose.

Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance: 13,080