Peet: Overcame a challenge

• Matt Peet gave his assessment of the Warriors win over Warrington on Friday night.
• Peet: “I thought we stepped into a massive challenge and it’s one that we overcame.”
• FT | Warrington Wolves 22-40 Wigan Warriors

Matt Peet said Warrington were ‘a challenge that we overcame’ as his Cherry & Whites side ran in seven tries in a comfortable victory over the Wolves on Friday night.

Speaking at full time, Peet said: “I’m pleased. We were coming to a very challenging game tonight in terms of where Warrington were at, they got a quality win the other day and they’ve got a bit of a break coming up. I think it was a team who is looking to build momentum, they’ve got class players, so I thought we stepped into a massive challenge and it’s one that we overcame.”

Both teams scored in the opening 10 minutes, and Peet admits that he feared it could be end-to-end: “The game was in danger of turning into tick and pass at times, and that’s what we wanted to avoid so as soon as it went try, try – I thought the team that wants to show their shoulders and defend will win this and that’s how it proved to be. Unfortunately we couldn’t keep it up for the full 80 minutes but when the game was in the balance, we looked very committed.”

Peet was keen to thank the travelling fans, who were vocal throughout the 80 minutes: “I love it and we love it, it’s our absolute motivation. For someone to give up their whole evening, to come over – although it’s not a massive distance; to spend money, take the time and give up their evening to come and watch you. You should take pride in giving them a good night and that’s what motivates us.

“Our away support is particularly vocal, I love it when we go to away grounds and take over.”

Those full time scenes 🥰#WWRL #SLWARWIG pic.twitter.com/CD6PbAgQWl

— Wigan Warriors 🍒⚪️ (@WiganWarriorsRL) April 29, 2022

Jai Field didn’t return to the field for the second half, as Peet explains it is nothing to worry about: “It was always the plan to look after Jai tonight. I originally thought the last 20 or so, but I thought the way it was going at half time, it presented a good opportunity and I had a feeling that Bevan might do something. He’s a different kind of threat and against tired bodies, he was chomping at the bit, so it was a good opportunity.”

Finally, the Warriors Head Coach looked ahead to the semi final at Elland Road next weekend: “Recovery remains paramount but for the first time in a while we’ll get some decent sessions. We’ll get a couple of good training days, the process remains the same and we need to improve regardless of who we are playing, you can see where we need to be better from a Coaches eye and that needs to be the focus. It’s about looking at ourselves and continuing to improve.”

These players only get so many semi finals in their career so I want to build it up, I want them to have fun and turn up at the ground ready to play. Everyone wants to see a team that expresses itself, plays with a smile on its face but digs a shoulder as well.”

Tickets for Wigan Warriors v St Helens in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Final at Elland Road, Leeds remain on general sale. Don’t miss your chance to see the Warriors in action next week, all ticket information including prices and how to buy can be found HERE.