Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet wary of 'strong' Bradford Bulls with Challenge Cup tie previewed
Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet expects a stern test when his side hosts Bradford Bulls in Friday night’s Challenge Cup fourth-round clash at the Brick Community Stadium.
The Bulls have made a promising return to Super League, winning two of their opening four matches and pushing opponents close in the other two. Peet believes their early-season form shows a team playing with confidence under coach Kurt Haggerty.
“They’ve been strong in every game – they could’ve won every game they’ve been in,” said the Warriors boss. “They play a great brand, they’ve got good players and also what Kurt is doing, he is getting the best out of his players as well.
“There are some players who we weren’t aware of too much, but Kurt is bringing the best out of them, and I think he has raised the levels of everyone in that team.
"You can obviously see Kurt’s fingerprints on the way Salford played, that same philosophy – a lot of ball movement, don’t waste many plays, ask a lot of questions, so your concentration is always tested against teams who play like that.
“I like the way they play. The ball movement gets talked about a lot, but they’re also playing tough as well, which shouldn’t be glossed over – tackling tough, carrying strong.
"Ryan Sutton has been excellent for them, Joe Mellor is obviously linking the field really well, and Kurt is getting the best out of some other players as well – the two centres have been a threat. I think they will be really proud of their start and will want to build on that. I don’t think they’ll be too concerned about anybody.”
While Wigan’s rich heritage in the Challenge Cup is well-documented, Peet insists history will count for little once the game begins.
“We’re aware of the history, we talk about it, we celebrate it, and we learn from it, and we want to make our own memories and stories,” he said.
“So ultimately, our history and Bradford’s history, any team who are playing in the Cup this week, it doesn’t count for anything once the game has kicked off.
“It’s brilliant, we’re proud of it, we’re inspired by it, but it’s about getting the performance, process and preparation right.”