‘Beaten in every area’ Matt Peet gives honest assessment of Wigan defeat to Catalans

Wigan coach Matt Peet admitted his side were second best in every area as they fell to a 46-22 defeat to Catalans at Magic Weekend.

The Warriors were 24-8 down at the break, with Catalans scoring first half tries through Sam Tomkins, Tom Johnstone, Matt Whitley and Arthur Mourgue.

Johnstone completed his hat-trick in the second half, with Whitley and Arthur Romano also posting further tries for the Dragons.

Wigan scored three tries in the latter stages of the game through Abbas Miski, Liam Marshall and Morgan Smithies – but it was the Dragons who finished comfortable 46-22 winners at St James’ Park.

Speaking after the game, Peet said: “I thought we were particularly poor today in a lot of different areas.

“Catalans were excellent, very clinical, played with lots of enthusiasm and have got some class players. We were beaten to the punch in every area.

“There’s always lessons in the games you lose but you can’t just say that when you don’t play well.

“We were poor in the real simple things. I thought our core skill was poor and obviously some of our defence was subpar.

“I don’t think we’ve learned anything particularly new today. You win the game by kicking well, tackling well and making good decisions and we failed to do that.

“It’s not nice to see your team get stuck behind the sticks so many times with the players you work so hard with and you know how much it means to them. They failed to perform at their best so it was tough to watch.

“I don’t think it was down to one reason. Although Catalans were excellent with the ball, I thought they were better than us defensively so it’s not just one area.

“I thought the two young lads – Harvie (Hill) and Junior (Nsemba) – stood up well against a good team and I thought Jake Wardle was excellent but other than that I think everyone will be equally disappointed, including myself.”

Matt Peet: It’s a bad day for us

Catalans’ win over Wigan saw them go top of the Super League table – for 24 hours at least – with Warrington’s game in hand coming against Hull on Sunday.

Peet added: “It was a big event, the lads are gutted, we let ourselves down.

“Catalans are an excellent team and that’s shown an insight to what they are capable of that they are very clinical and methodical in what they do.

“When you allow them to roll down the field in the way they did and finish their sets and when you’re not asking enough questions with the ball, the score racks up quickly.

“It was tough watching because you care so much about the players and supporters. It’s a bad day for us.”

Wigan prop Liam Byrne left the field in the latter stages of the game, with Peet revealing the Ireland international had stitches on a cut.

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