Matt Peet explains why Wigan Warriors’ Hull FC win ‘will stand us in good stead’

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet hailed the character of his players after they battled through adversity to claim a hard-fought 20-16 victory over Hull FC at the MKM Stadium.

The Warriors came from behind to secure their eighth win in nine games despite trailing at half-time, losing two senior forwards to injury in the opening 15 minutes and having to contend with sweltering temperatures in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Peet admitted it was exactly the sort of challenge his side needed.

“A very tough win and a very tough game,” he said.

“Hull made it a real challenge, and we probably needed a game like that, so to come out on the other side of it with two points against big challenges, I’m very proud of the players and the character they showed, and their commitment to one another. It’s an important performance.”

Wigan completed well below their usual standards during a scrappy first half and went into the break trailing 10-4, but Peet said his players knew exactly where they had gone wrong.

“The players knew all week what sort of game we were coming into, and it was a week where they didn’t start the game in the manner that they committed to, and that put us in a tough spot,” he said.

“We just said the best thing about it was that we had another 40 minutes to put it right, so I think it was almost like they realised what kind of game they were in.”

The Warriors were also forced to cope without Liam Farrell (shoulder) and Luke Thompson (foot) after both left the field injured in the first half, while youngster Noah Hodkinson later required a head injury assessment, which he passed.

Peet felt that overcoming those setbacks early doors made the result even more satisfying.

“Every team knows these weeks are coming where you lose players and you get tested in certain ways, and compound that with the heat as well, it was a perfect storm, really, and we managed to overcome it and ride it out, so it will stand us in good stead moving forward.”

Temperatures reached around 29 degrees, with hydration breaks introduced in both halves, and Peet believes the conditions played a part in the error-strewn contest.

“I think the weather always has an effect when it’s quite extreme,” he said.

“Probably people doing uncharacteristic things and every team will be speaking of looking after the ball like most weeks and not giving penalties away, but when that cycle starts, it’s hard to think correctly because you are fatigued and it’s hard to keep doing the right things.

“There are moments where you probably see more uncharacteristic things in attack and defence. It was important that we just gave ourselves a chance, with our lack of completions. We never had a chance to make a game of it in the first half.”

The match was disrupted by a number of stoppages throughout, although Peet felt his side contributed to the stop-start nature of the contest.

“As I said at the start, we kind of knew what kind of game we were coming into,” he added. “We spoke about it, and I think we allowed it to go in that direction. The referee had a difficult job.”

Wigan’s victory came after a demanding spell which has included trips to Wembley, Paris and a succession of away fixtures, but Peet dismissed suggestions that travel may have affected his side’s display.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “This is always a tough game. Hull away is always a tough game for us, and we didn’t start particularly well, but I think we’ve enjoyed (the run of away trips). It’s certainly not that, it’s more credit to how Hull went about their business.”