Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet has opened up on what he said to his team at half-time to inspire such a comeback against Huddersfield Giants. The Cherry and Whites won the game 30-10 at the Brick Community Stadium, but they had to overcome a 10-point first half deficit to do it.
The Warriors were far from themselves in the first half with errors and mistakes characterising their display and that told as Tui Lolohea and Jacob Gagai touched down for the visitors. They were a different side in the second half, though, and they managed to find 30 unanswered points to blow the visitors away.
Debutant Christian Wade got over to get Wigan’s side of the scoreboard ticking and a Jake Wardle brace followed to put the home side in front for the first time in the contest.
Ultimately, as Huddersfield crumbled away, Wigan ran away with the contest with Tyler Dupree and Junior Nsemba both scoring.
It could have been very different though had Peet’s side not found the response they needed after a half-time debrief in the changing rooms and the head coach lifted the lid on what he said to his players.
“Pleased to get the second half response that we did,” Peet told Sky Sports after seeing his side get back to winning ways. “I wasn’t sure at half-time what sort of response we were going to get.
“It’s just another reminder that in this sport it’s a fine line between being terrible and being pretty good and more often than not it’s on our effort areas and physicality. If you’re a little bit off, teams will punish you and they come to play.
“Huddersfield are a very good team in first halves generally and today was no different.
“It’s very simple, a kick goes in the air in the first half and we don’t compete for it and they go down the field and score and then every time the ball was in the air in the second half we went hard and forced a few errors. It’s an obvious thing but sometimes it doesn’t happen.”
Pushed on his half-time message, Peet said: “I’d like to think it’s always measured, I had a conversation with Tommy (Leuluai) about the tone of it.
“The first thing I said is we’re going to win this game but there were a few things in there that even if we do win it, they’re not acceptable.
“When there’s cultural things that you see that you don’t like, you have to address it, despite the game you’re in. I always want the best for them and sometimes the best is a simple message.”
Christian Wade, injury woes, try of the season and Wigan Warriors v Huddersfield Giants talking points https://t.co/Gkb83mCY8E
— Serious About Rugby League (@SeriousAboutRL) July 11, 2025
