Matt Peet outlines Wigan Warriors’ training approach with semi-final preparations underway

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet says their mini training camp will bring added intensity and focus as his side prepares for their Super League play-off semi-final.

With no game at the weekend after finishing inside the top two of the Super League table, the Warriors earned a week off before the semi-finals.

Wigan will have home advantage for their semi-final on Saturday, September 26, with Peet taking his squad to Harrogate for a couple of days of training during the break.

The Warriors are looking to build on a successful regular season which saw them claim the League Leaders’ Shield, adding to the Challenge Cup they won at Wembley earlier this year.

Peet says the mini training camp will give his players a chance to reset after the conclusion of the regular season while ensuring they maintain their focus for the play-offs.

“It just allows you to focus your attention a little bit,” said Peet. “It breaks up the week, and kind of separates it from last week.

“Anyone knows that when you go away on a training camp, it brings a bit of intensity to what you’re doing, and that’s what we’re after, so we’ll train smart but with an intensity and a focus about what we’re doing.”

Peet was also pleased to see the Warriors secure the League Leaders’ Shield last weekend, with their unbeaten streak stretching back to the middle of May, but stressed the importance of quickly turning their attention towards the play-offs.

“We’re proud of the achievement,” he said.

“It’s a great mark of the team and the club’s consistency, and it was important that we recognised that, enjoyed it, and celebrated it to an extent, but we all know that we’ve got to move on quickly and we’ll put our heads down now and prepare for the semi-final.”

Wigan’s academy and reserves have also enjoyed successful campaigns, with both sides going unbeaten and winning their respective Grand Finals.

“The unbeaten thing is good for the lads, but as a club, we don’t pay too much attention to that,” Peet reflected. “The important thing is that the players are improving and developing, and knocking on the door of the first-team.

“I think Shane (Eccles), John (Duffy) and Matty (Smith) and the staff down there deserve a lot of credit, particularly during the time when there have been players playing for us (in the first-team) who have come out of the reserves.

“There was a week when we played Hull KR away and our academy and reserves both had games that week, and had to play young teams and they both got wins that week, and good performances most importantly, so credit to Shane and Matty for the way they run the programme.”

The Warriors will host their Super League semi-final at the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 5:30pm kick-off.