Boilover as Wigan denies Panthers on full-time siren

The Wigan Warriors denied a match-winning Penrith Panthers try on the full-time siren to clinch a record-equalling fifth World Club Challenge title on Sunday morning (AEDT).

Trailing 16-12 at DW Stadium in Wigan, a desperate Panthers outfit spread the ball left and crossed the try line through Taylan May, but the Penrith centre was held up by Jai Field and Abbas Miski.

The on-field referee ruled no try and there was insufficient evidence for the official upstairs to overturn the call, leaving Wigan's players and fans going berserk.

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In the 53rd minute of the match, the Warriors were awarded a contentious try through Jake Wardle.

The Wigan centre gathered a grubber deep in Penrith territory and was met by Brian To'o and Dylan Edwards, who many believe prevented Wardle from reaching the try line.

But the on-field referee deemed it a try and it was confirmed through replays upstairs, albeit controversially.

That try gave Wigan a 14-12 lead, before Harry Smith converted to make the scoreline 16-12.

"I can't see a definitive reposition of that ball back to the line," the video referee said.

"I've got a live call of a try. I have insufficient evidence to overturn the live call. I'm happy with these angles I need. I've made my decision."

Nine's Phil Gould was stunned.

"He's a long way short of the line there," Gould said.

"You could build a block of units between the ball and the line. He hasn't got anywhere near the line ... He's a fibber."

Former NRL star Bevan French, who now plays for Wigan, said the final moment of the game was "crazy".

"I wasn't expecting it to go down to the last second," French told Sky Sports.

"Relieved after that last tackle.

"We basically just said we'd dig deep for each other [when defending the try line late].

"I'd say 80 per cent of that game we were down in our own half, defending our try line. Didn't get down to their half much. It was digging deep for 80 minutes. Nothing flash, nothing fancy; just tough."

Miski, Kruise Leeming and Wardle were Wigan's try-scorers, while Nathan Cleary and Edwards crossed for Penrith.

Wigan's fifth World Club Challenge win saw the proud English club draw level with the Sydney Roosters for most titles.