Matt Peet has singled out Wigan Warriors’ defensive effort as the most pleasing thing from their 38-0 thumping of Leigh Leopards in Saturday’s Super League semi-final. The reigning champions were ruthless for the majority of the match, keeping their opposition scoreless for the third game in a row.
Adding to the 64-0 over Salford Red Devils a fortnight ago and the 38-0 success over Leeds Rhinos, Wigan are yet to concede a point since meeting Hull KR last month, a game they won 24-20, and the opposition they will meet in next week’s Grand Final at Old Trafford.
And it was that defensive performance, amid some flashes of attacking brilliance, that caught the coach’s eye, who will be looking to defend his club’s crown at the Theatre of Dreams and do something the club haven’t done yet in the summer era—win back-to-back titles.
“We’re very pleased,” Peet told Sky Sports after the game. “You’re always nervous coming into a semi-final. Leigh have been in good form, and I knew that if we didn’t get the start right, then anything could have happened. I was pleased with how we attacked the game at the start; it was a proper semi-final for thirty minutes, and we managed it really well.
Asked for the most pleasing aspect, Peet continued: “It would have to be defensively. When Leigh were coming out of their end, we did a lot right that we haven’t been doing. We were a little bit more connected. We were aggressive, but we controlled it. They were the areas that we invested in. I like the fact that we expressed ourselves with the ball, but you’ve got to get this right.
