Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet shares high praise for Leigh Leopards ahead of Battle of the Borough

Matt Peet expects another high-quality Battle of the Borough on Friday night when his Wigan Warriors side makes the short trip to Leigh Leopards.

The Warriors make the journey across the borough sitting third in the Super League table, level on points with second-placed Wakefield Trinity, while Leigh are fifth and just four points behind.

Although Wigan recorded a 54-0 victory when the two sides met back in February, Peet believes Friday’s encounter with Adrian Lam’s side will bear little resemblance to that contest.

“I think it is one of the most exciting games of the year for us, particularly going to Leigh,” Peet said.

“It’s a great occasion, they generate one of the best atmospheres in Super League, which is a credit to the club, and they’re also a fantastic team in great form.

“I think they’re in great form as a team, which the wins prove, but also I think they’ve got some great individuals in outstanding form as well, you know who I’m talking about, in terms of Umyla (Hanley), Joe Ofahengaue and the halfbacks.

“They’re just a really good team, full of good players, and it’s a credit to what Adrian’s done there since the start of the season when he had a few new players coming in, particularly through the spine, and it just shows how well he has coached them and brought them together through the year.”

Peet believes Leigh have all the attributes needed to challenge at the top end of the competition.

“I think they’ve got all the hallmarks of a good rugby league team,” Peet continued. “A big physical pack who are aggressive and fit, energetic outside-backs who are difficult to tackle, and then smart players in the pivots who get the ball where it needs to be.

“I’ve always considered Lachlan Lam one of the best players in the competition. Some of the detail in his attack, his tempo and his deception with the ball makes it really hard to defend against, very good attacking shape, and him and Adam (Cook) have built that connection throughout the year.

“If you say all the things you want in a good rugby league team, then they’ve certainly got it.”

Despite Wigan’s emphatic win in the reverse fixture, Peet said his side have focused on Leigh’s recent form rather than what happened earlier in the campaign.

“We’re well aware that they’re a different proposition than they were earlier in the season,” Peet said. “It’s a long time ago now, they’ve developed massively and come together.

“They had a few new signings to bed in and I think that’s something Adrian has done really well over his time at Leigh. He signs players, works on the training field, develops them and the connection builds, and they end up towards the top end of the table come the back end of the year.

“Not too much (we refer back to that), we’re aware of how much they’ve improved and the recent form they’re in, and I think they’re a very strong team like I said, but there are also some individuals who are flying at the moment and I think they’re a very good team to watch.

“To answer your question, I think it will be nothing like that game. I think it will be very evenly matched and I think it will be a great game to watch for the full 80 minutes.”

Peet also believes the Battle of the Borough has earned its place among the biggest fixtures in Super League because of the standard of the contests between the two sides.

“It’s like I’ve always said about Wigan-Saints and I think Wigan-Leigh has come into that bracket because you can be close rivals, but if the games aren’t exciting and not got much on the line, then they’re not as interesting,” Peet added.

“But the fact is, every time we play Leigh, it’s a great game, and there’s plenty riding on it, both towards the top of the table. We’ve played in semi-finals and hopefully one day we’ll meet in a final, so I think it’s less to do with locality and more to do with the quality of the contests and the atmosphere at the games.”