Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet makes Leigh top six admission ahead of play-off tie

Wigan and Leigh coaches Matt Peet and Adrian Lam.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Matt Peet is not 'one little bit' surprised to see his Wigan Warriors side face Leigh Leopards in the Super League semi-final this Saturday afternoon. The Leythers have enjoyed a strong second half of the season to get to this stage, with the club going on a run of 11 wins from their last 13 matches.

That saw them finish the regular rounds in fifth spot, overcoming fourth-placed Salford Red Devils last Friday night in the first play-off tie. The week before that, they confirmed their top-six spot with a thrilling win over St Helens, with Peet well aware of the challenges facing his Wigan side.

Languishing in the bottom four spots for the early part of the season, Leigh's run to the final four coincided with the return from injury of their top stars, with the likes of Edwin Ipape and John Asiata leading the way. That has seen the Leythers right up there with the competition's elite once again, looking to build on last year's Challenge Cup triumph.

Of course, that trophy was handed back to Wigan earlier this year, who also tied up the League Leaders Shield a fortnight ago. They are also the reigning Super League and World Club Champions, but Peet, who holds the ultimate respect for former Warriors and current Leopards boss Adrian Lam, is taking nothing for granted.

"Truthfully, not one little bit," Peet told the media when asked if Leigh's run to the play-offs surprised him. "I think even during that period when they had some of their best players missing, they were competing, going hard, defending tough, and a bit like St Helens, you always knew once they got some of that talent back they would be more than a match for the best of us, and offer the teams at the top a challenge.

"A lot of our most intense games in recent seasons have been against Leigh. Lachlan Lam, Edwin Ipape, and John Asiata—they're all the best players in our competition. Tom Amone, you could go on. Zak Hardaker, too; I know what he brings to a group. I am not one little bit surprised that we find ourselves in a semi-final against Leigh. They are led very well by Derek (Beaumont) with his ambition and his drive. Lammy is also a great man manager who knows the game inside out."

On the game itself, which will see a huge crowd descend on the Brick Community Stadium for Super League's second semi-final—the other seeing Hull KR host Warrington Wolves at Craven Park on Friday night—Peet is expecting an almighty clash from two physical and dangerous sides.

"I expect it to be intense; that's the word that springs to mind," he explained. "I think Leigh are a well-balanced team, and they have been ever since Lammy took over there. They play with the right level of physicality, and they've got some class ball players and great athletes.

"Lammy has shaped that team as you want a good rugby league team to look like with tough, physical forwards and a smart spine with Asiata and Ipape who pull it all together. They've got real star talent, but the big thing is that they play for one another. They're a very committed group, and they've got plenty of reasons to find motivation this Saturday."

And while Leigh played out a gutsy win at Salford last week, Wigan, as league leaders, had the week off. They are favourites to retain their crown, with the pressure now on the Cherry and Whites to produce once again on the big stage.

"Semi-finals are always huge challenges," he continued. "Both teams will have that desperation to try and get what they feel they deserve. That brings pressure and intensity, and the quality of Leigh only heightens that competition.

"We do try to enjoy it and embrace it (that pressure). You're constantly searching for that sweet spot and bit of confidence, bit of nerves, bit of fear, maybe, and that fuels it. We just all, players and staff, want to do the best that we can, execute close to our best rugby, and if we do that, and regardless of the result, then we can be proud."

He added: "We're in a good place. We had a good week's training last week. We got some hard work done, and we managed to rest up over the weekend, enjoy the other games, and then attack another week's training. We can't complain. It's a privilege to be in the semi-final, and it's one we're looking forward to against a great team in Leigh. We're in a good spot."

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