Matt Peet highlights key Wigan Warriors positives after Leeds Rhinos win with middle unit praised

Matt Peet took plenty of positives from Wigan Warriors’ 40-8 win over Leeds Rhinos as they moved top of Super League and closed in on the League Leaders’ Shield.

Wigan produced an impressive performance at AMT Headingley on Saturday to leapfrog Leeds at the top of the table, with Peet pleased with how his side handled the occasion.

“I was pleased with the performance,” said Peet. “I knew we were coming up against a really good team and a great arena with a good build-up and crowd.

“I just thought we were coming up against a great team in good form, and I knew it was going to be a big occasion, so to get the job done, I’m pleased and proud.”

Peet highlighted concentration and embracing the occasion as key instructions for his players against a Leeds side he rates highly.

“There are things that you work on all the time,” Peet continued. “Leeds are a high-quality team - they get the basics of the game right, they challenge you in so many different ways, so concentration is a big one, and then embracing the occasion. These are the sort of games you want to be in as players.”

Wigan’s defence stood up to several Leeds threats, particularly early in the second half, with Jai Field and the Warriors’ outside-backs making important defensive decisions.

“We knew it was going to take that defensive performance against Leeds because they constantly ask questions,” said Peet.

“We were quite excited about that challenge - they’ve got so many good athletes, and they play quite an expansive game, so you know you’ve got to pride yourself on coming up with big plays because they’re a good team.”

Peet was also pleased with the work of his middle unit, with Ollie Partington, Luke Thompson, Ethan Havard, Brad O’Neill and Kaide Ellis all playing big minutes.

“Leeds have got very dynamic ball carriers, and if you clock off for a minute, they’ll get you,” he continued.

“With the middles, it’s one thing being able to run hard and hit people, but you’ve also got to concentrate a lot and do a lot of the little things right, so I liked the way they applied themselves, starters, bench… Leeds really do challenge you, but we had to be good.”

The Wigan bench also made a telling contribution, with Peet stressing the importance of squad depth.

“Shea (O’Connor) was really unlucky to miss out, Sam Eseh has done a good job for us this year, so we’re going to need the squad, and we just keep moving forward,” he added.

And while Wigan are now favourites to secure the League Leaders’ Shield, Peet insists the Grand Final remains the ultimate prize.

Asked if winning the League Leaders’ Shield would give him the most satisfaction as a head coach, given it would mean his side have been the most consistent over the course of the season, Peet replied: “If I’m honest, if you win that and lose the last one (Grand Final), it’s not a good winter, is it? Because you go home at the end of the season, and if you get beat in that one or you don’t get there, it’s disappointing.

“But I genuinely think the League Leaders’ (Shield) is the team that wins it are delighted, but everyone else is onto the next week straight away, trying to right some wrongs, so I do think it is a great representation of the whole club and the consistency, and Leeds are still in the mix for it.

“But for me, (winning the League Leaders’ Shield) shows that the academy is producing, that the physios and strength and conditioning are doing a good job, the coaches are in place and the players are playing well consistently, whereas the fact is, you could finish sixth and win it (the Grand Final), which is a bit different, the Challenge Cup is a bit different, but with the League Leaders’ (Shield), you can’t miss much, but the fact is, we haven’t won it.”