Wigan boss Matt Peet hailed after impressive start to life as a head coach

Wigan forward Liam Farrell says he is pleased to see the club bearing the fruits of putting their faith and trust in head coach Matt Peet after an impressive start.

Peet, who is the youngest coach in Super League at 38, was appointed as head coach of his hometown club in the off-season. He succeeded Adrian Lam, who left the club upon the expiry of his contract.

It might be Peet’s first job as a head coach, but he has been on the backroom staff at the Warriors for 13 years.

The Wiganer has made a strong start to life as numero uno. The Cherry and Whites are currently joint top of Super League along with rivals St Helens as well as being in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, where they will come up against Saints in what Peet describes as the ‘most intense match of the season’ on Saturday.

“It would have been very easy to bring in a very experienced coach from over here or Australia but he knows the club inside out and how it works,” Farrell told Love Rugby League. “He knows what kind of player the club needs.

“He’s not played the game at a high level but he has got two assistants (Lee Briers & Sean O’Loughlin) that have got vast knowledge of the game and he is a very smart coach himself.

“You can tell he is a very deep thinker as well and he cares – so far, so good.

“He won’t want to be praised because that’s not the type of person he is but he has been good for us and hopefully that continues.”

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Praise for Matt Peet, Lee Briers and Sean O’Loughlin

Farrell, who has almost made 300 appearances for boyhood club Wigan, also praised Peet’s assistants Lee Briers and Sean O’Loughlin for their work behind the scenes.

Briers joined Wigan as Peet’s right-hand man in the off-season whilst club legend O’Loughlin has been working to help tighten up the team’s defence.

“The involvement of Lee Briers with his attacking style and Sean O’Loughlin defensively has been great,” Farrell added.

“Lee has changed a lot in attack and how he wants us to play. Matt is very smart as a coach in what he wants us to do and he allows freedom in how we play.

“I think Matty has brought in a philosophy of care about what you do on a day-to-day basis and making sure you are getting most out of your work and your prep. I think the lads are enjoying time with each other on a day-to-day basis.”

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