Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has backed his team’s defensive system after conceding that Grand Final opponents Wigan Warriors have a ‘team full of superstars’.
At the forefront of those is former Man of Steel Bevan French with Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis taking that crown from him earlier this week, however, Wigan don’t just boast French but a plethora of other stars.
Jai Field is often seen as the tag-team player alongside French but he’s arguably the best full-back in Super League, anchoring a backline featuring the 2024 top try scorer in Liam Marshall, 2023 top try scorer in Abbas Miski and undoubtedly the best centre in England, Jake Wardle.
Adam Keighran isn’t too bad himself either with the former Catalans man bagging 166 points in 2024 whilst fellow kicker Harry Smith was on the 2023 shortlist for the Golden Boot.
Worryingly for Hull KR, Wigan’s forward pack is arguably better than their backs with Luke Thompson being among the signings of the season and Junior Nsemba usurping captain Liam Farrell as the best second-rower in Super League.
Despite all that talent, Willie Peters has claimed that Hull KR have a defensive system that, if they stick to, they’ll be “okay”.
“You can’t stop against Wigan” – Peters previews Peet’s machine
Speaking on the task at hand, Peters would explain: “Obviously, we’re playing a team that’s full of superstars and full of great players as well, which is going to make it an exciting game.
“We’ve got a system that we have with the way we defend and if we stick to that system then we’ll be okay.”
System or not, saying it is far easier than stopping it, as Leigh Leopards found out last week with Adrian Lam confirming that a plan was in place to deal with French and Field, who would both score one and assist two as Wigan blew the Leopards out 38-0.
Peters was all too aware of that, conceding: “Now look, Bevan’s chip-and-chase and all that sort of stuff that could happen at any time but you need to have a plan around it, you need to react and do your best. That’s pretty much what you need to do.
“But you can’t stop against Wigan, you just can’t stop. We know it’s coming, but again we need to make sure that we hold up.”
Where Hull KR can win the game
Among those tasked with ‘holding up’ will be the unsung hero of Hull KR, Dean Hadley. The veteran forward put in a whopping 59 tackles against Warrington and Willie Peters has revealed the reason why the 32-year-old will be so up for Saturday night.
“Dean’s a Manchester United supporter,” Peters explained.
“He’s fanatical, so for him to play on this pitch is special for him. What he’s done for us, whether he’s played prop, loose forward, second row. He made 59 tackles at the weekend, he’s a player that others love playing with.”
Elliot Minchella now returns from suspension and alongside stand-in captain James Batchelor, they made a devastating trio who Peters is more than confident can contain Wigan.
“Batchelor is the same and obviously Mini’s our captain so when they’re in the dressing room and I look around and I see those three, I’m pretty comfortable that we’re going to be okay today.”
Whilst the grunt work will be done by those men, the match-winning moment at Old Trafford so often comes from the magic of one man and Peters will be hoping it is newly-crowned Man of Steel Mikey Lewis, whom he has called to kick on after his quiet affair last week.
“He wouldn’t have been overly happy with his game last week. He needs to improve on that, but he’s been outstanding for his all-season,” Peters added.
“On the big occasions, you want your big players to step up. He’s still only young but he’s certainly a massive part to our team and what we do. He’s proven that all season. I’m looking forward to him being able to show what Mikey Lewis is about again.”