WIGAN'S in-form second-row Simon Haughton can't wait to make the critics eat their words.

The Warriors youngster has come-of-age this season with some devastating performances and is hoping to repeat that form when his side's World Club Championship kicks-off against Canterbury Bulldogs on Monday.

He said: "Many people have been only too willing to rubbish Wigan at every opportunity. They talk about the team being on the slide, the team whose glory days are over, the team that doesn't have a snowball in hell's chance of making any impact on the World Club Championship.

"What a load of rubbish!

"Wigan are far from finished as we have proved to some extent by winning our last five Super League games."

Haughton admits that Wigan couldn't have a more difficult task as the Brisbane Broncos are the best club side in Australia.

"They are currently running away with the title, inspired by captain Allan Langer, who is in devastating form.

"Canberra have hit form just at the right time and in stand-off Laurie Daley probably have a player rated the best in the world, while Canterbury are one of the hardest sides to beat.

"As far as the Aussies are concerned we don't stand a chance but we have been written off before and proved that is when we are at our most dangerous as the Broncos found out to their cost three years ago.

"Everybody has to have ambition and ours is to aim for glory in the World Club Championship. We are desperate to give our supporters who have come over here and those back home watching on TV something to cheer about.

"We have had a few days to acclimatise, a few days in which we have lived and trained together without any distractions. The team spirit has always been good at Wigan but it is even better now we are in Australia. So many people have written us off, they are in for a rude awakening."

WIGAN Warriors have averted a punishing schedule of thee games in five days when they return from the World Club Championships later this month.

The Rugby League has allowed them to push their home match against Warrington back to August 13 with kick off at 7.30pm.

They had been due to play the game on July 2 - the middle leg of three games in five days culminating in a crucial away clash with the London Broncos, brought forward to July 4 for television purposes.

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