Wigan Warriors saw off Warrington Wolves on Friday night in a performance that Matt Peet ‘liked’, but insists must be improved when facing Hull KR.
The Cherry and Whites will take on Hull KR at the Brick Community Stadium this coming week with that game going a long way to decide the League Leaders Shield. They’ll have to do so without Junior Nsemba as well after the forward failed a HIA.
A loss for Wigan would end any hopes of reclaiming that piece of silverware but a win throws the race wide open with five rounds to go, however, the Warriors will need to improve on their current level of performance according to head coach Matt Peet.
Their 24-18 win over Warrington saw them trail 8-6 at half time and more clinical opponents could have beaten them with Wigan likely thankful that Sam Burgess had stood down Matt Dufty.
“I think we learned a lot from that game,” Matt Peet explained post-match on Sky Sports as he assessed the win.
“I liked a lot about the performance, but we still allowed it to turn into a tight finish, which we’ve got to look at the reasons why. The penalties we gave away when Warrington were coming out on their own end, and the way we didn’t deal with their absolute kicking game.”
Wigan Warriors coach calls for improvement after Wire win
Hull KR’s kicking game likely won’t be as dominant as Marc Sneyd’s, however, the Robins will offer more strike so Wigan will need to step it up.
One thing that pleased Peet in their win over Wire was the combination between Zach Eckersley and Liam Farrell with the captain getting on the end of the youngster’s kick to score.
Peet conceded: “I enjoyed that. Two things, one is a young player showing what he’s capable of, but I love my captain very much as well, so seeing him get that moment. He came up with some important plays.”
As for next week, Peet explained that regardless of the fact they play Hull KR, their performances have to build as refused to buy into the big build-up of the game.
He explained: “To be honest, regardless of the opposition, we have to improve. We’ve taken some steps tonight, but there’s a lot more in us, there’s a lot more in us.
“Whoever we are playing next week, it would have been important to take that next step. Obviously Hull KR is a big test.”
“Definitely been on the mind” – Hull KR clash in focus now for Wigan
It was put to Wigan Warriors’ captain that his head coach was not the ‘salesman’ that Sky had perhaps hoped for so Farrell was asked if he and the side had earmarked this game as one of the biggest this year.
“It’s definitely been on the mind, I won’t disagree with you there, I think it’s been there for quite a while now,” Farrell conceded.
He’d add: “They pushed us all season last year and they’ve been outstanding this year. They’re the form team and it’s going to be a great game, it’s one we’re really looking forward to.”
Jon Wilkin asked the Wigan skipper if the rhetoric around Hull KR and the lack of attention that Wigan have had at times has hurt, especially with the Robins having claimed the Challenge Cup earlier this year.
Farrell admitted: “Winning trophies like we did last year and now to lose them and seeing other teams pick them up is always difficult. I don’t like losing, I don’t think we like losing as a team, and we’re a club who pride ourselves on winning trophies and to see another team win is difficult.”
It’s the Wigan captain Liam Farrell who gets his side back in front 🫡 pic.twitter.com/PqqXmWzOHS
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) August 8, 2025
