Matt Peet makes League Leaders’ Shield admission and singles out Wigan Warriors’ key man

Matt Peet insists the race to win the League Leaders’ Shield is ‘far from over’, despite seeing his Wigan Warriors side beat Hull KR 24-20 at the Brick Community Stadium. The win puts Wigan two points clear at the top of the Super League table with just two games left to play, meaning they are now in pole position to head into the play-offs with more silverware in the bag.

They had to dig deep for the win, too, with KR pushing them all the way in Greater Manchester. The visitors chalked up an early lead against the Cherry and Whites as Matt Parcell and Mikey Lewis touched down before Abbas Miski and Junior Nsemba brought them back into touching distance.

Joe Burgess added another for KR, but a moment of magic from Bevan French swung momentum Wigan’s way and Liam Marshall made sure of the points with a well-taken brace. With the play-offs around the corner, it’s a win that hands the Warriors a psychological advantage over their rivals, but Peet was quick to nip talk of having the League Leaders’ Shield wrapped up in the bud on full-time.

“It is a big one but us and Hull KR would have been saying the same thing, it was in our own hands and it remains in our own hands,” Peet told Sky Sports. “The fact is we have Leeds and Salford.

“We can come unstuck. Leeds beat us last time. Salford always give us a tough game. It’s far from over but we’re in a good spot.

He added: “It was a fantastic game, I thought Hull KR were the better team in the first half by far. It was a great advert for Super League, it was what we all wanted and needed. I’m chuffed for the game and I’m obviously delighted that we won.

“I know what they’re about, I know they won’t give up and they have so much talent. The important thing is that we learn from some of the things we did in the first half and if we do that again at the back end of the year we won’t get what we want. We learn a little bit and I’m immensely proud of them all. ”

Peet reserved praise for Patrick Mago after the contest, too, with the prop stepping off the bench for 14 minutes and having a huge say on the contest.

“I know Patrick got the man of the match,” the Wigan Warriors boss added. “We think the world of him. So many people can be proud of Patrick in Australia and Bella his missus, I’m really happy for him.

“We were in two minds with the bench and we did something different today but we needed something. That’s what players like Tyler, Patrick and Kruise bring, they make a difference and sometimes you put them on and it doesn’t go to plan but today it did.”