Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet calls for return of Yorkshire vs Lancashire

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet has called for the return of a Yorkshire-Lancashire clash after the mid-season England-France test was widely criticised.

The England-France game, played in front of a meagre crowd and no TV audience, only being streamed on SuperLeague+, was disappointing, to say the least.

Figures in the game, such as former St Helens man James Graham, have labelled it as “disgraceful” and “embarrassing” for the sport of rugby league.

Matt Peet agreed, saying – via Wigan Today – “Everyone I speak to, certainly within our club, shares that frustration.

“I think it’s for the owners and the CEO’s and those at board level to try to impact, and hopefully they can work with the RFL and see what more we can do.”

This sentiment has led to plenty of people suggesting changes that could be made to the game in the UK, including changes to the calendar.

It seems that English clubs will be involved in NRL’s Vegas series next year, but another idea has been suggested by Matt Peet.

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Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet calls for War of the Roses to return

Suggesting a way of revitalising interest in represntative rugby league, Matt Peet said: “I know we’ve committed to games against France at the moment, and once we’ve committed to do that, I think it’s important we stick to that.

“But I would personally like to see the Lancashire-Yorkshire fixture revitalised, and given another go.

“A stepping stone for an England shirt would be great for so many players, it would get more coaches involved as well. The fact is we took a game to France, and the fans didn’t come out, for whatever reason.

“So I personally would love to see the War of the Roses back, but I also understand there are reasons why I’m in my job and other people are in other reasons, and there may be reasons why that can’t happen.”

Yorkshire faced Lancashire for almost a century before ‘The War of the Roses’ disappeared for a decade, then returned from 2001 to 2003 as the County of Origin series.

It hasn’t returned since.

The century-long rivalry culminated with the sides winning 44 games each, meaning if it was to return as a concept, the next winners would immediately go ahead in the all-time rankings.