Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet pays compliments to Leigh Leopards: ‘Story of the season so far’

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet has shared praise for Challenge Cup finalists Leigh Leopards ahead of Saturday’s Battle of the Borough.

The Leopards, who only won promotion from the Championship last season, currently sit second in the Super League table and have reached their first Challenge Cup final since 1971.

Wigan welcome their borough neighbours Leigh to the DW Stadium in Super League action on Saturday, and Peet has praised Leigh and Adrian Lam ahead of the derby.

“They’re full of confidence and rightly so, everything they are getting they deserve,” Peet said.

“The way Derek (Beaumont, owner) has assembled the squad, the way Lammy has managed them and got them playing – you can just tell they are a team on the up.

“We are going to come up against a confident team with some class players and a great work ethic, so I think they are the standout story of the season so far and well deserved from the leadership of the players as well.

“I think the healthy competition comes because we’re local and both teams are competing at the top end of the table.

“They’ve managed to do what we could last week in getting to a final, so I think the fact we’re both playing good rugby and want to be in the big games and there’s the history and locality, I think its natural that healthy competition will evolve, fans will enjoy it.

“They’re bringing it because they are playing well, its not like in the past when we might’ve played them in the Cup, they’re a quality outfit so I’ve got the maximum respect for the way they’ve gone about things, credit to Derek and Adrian and the staff there, they are doing so much right.”

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet shares praise for Adrian Lam: ‘I think we all knew he would do a good job at Leigh’

Warriors boss Peet took over the head coaching reins from Lam at the end of the 2021 season, with Lam then moving across the borough to Leigh.

“Really happy for Adrian,” Peet added. “I think we all knew he would do a good job at Leigh.

“Even last year in the Championship, they were playing fantastic rugby and were so dominant, and we were well aware of what Adrian would be able to do with that squad, get them playing for one another, smiles on faces and playing great rugby.

“Really pleased to see Adrian (doing well), he’s loved at this club and I owe him a lot so its nice to see him doing well. I’m a bit jealous that he’s going to be at Wembley and we’re not, but he certainly deserves it.”

The Warriors take on the Leopards at the DW Stadium on Saturday in front of the Channel 4 cameras, 1pm kick-off.

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