Sky Sports pundit Sam Tomkins believes Wigan Warriors are a different side in 2026, with Matt Peet’s side already demonstrating big improvements.
After wining the quadruple in 2024, the Warriors went trophyless in 2025, with Hull KR dominating in the league before eventually beating Wigan in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford. That will surely have left a bitter taste in Cherry and White mouths and while Peet insists last year does not act as a motivation, the Warriors have hit the ground running this time around.
Wigan eased through the challenges of Castleford Tigers and Hull FC in the opening two rounds, but they really sent out a statement of intent on Thursday night as they blew a sorry Leigh Leopards side away.
The Warriors scored nine tries against their local rivals to win 54-0 with a performance as dominant as the scoreline suggests.
And, while Wigan’s season is only three rounds old, Tomkins has already labelled them the team to beat this year.
“I think so,” Tomkins said when asked if he’d spotted a notable step up from Wigan. “I think so based on tonight certainly.
“I don’t think I’ve seen such a dominant performance from Wigan against anyone really. The next five games they’re going to go into as firm, firm favourites and going forward this year they’re going to be a team to stop.
“They’re a club that demands success. Success isn’t something that you just dream of at this club, it’s something that’s demanded and expected of this side and they’re a team that looks like that.
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“Going off what we’ve seen in the first three rounds of this year, you can’t see anybody getting near them when they’re on. On three rounds… ”
Jon Wilkin added: “I think one thing is when you just lose out, it re-instill’s that hunger inside you to go and get some silverware again.
“I think that manifests itself in loads of ways but the appetite of the players for sure, but of the staff, the conditioning staff, this Wigan team has had an incredibly tough off-season, they’ve been in the gym, they’ve smashed the gym to bits, and they look all the better for it.”
