Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet delivers verdict on Leigh Leopards win as young duo earn praise

Matt Peet hailed Wigan Warriors’ defensive resilience after they battled to a 20-8 victory over Leigh Leopards, having praised the way his side adapted to overcome a difficult first half.

The Warriors claimed the bragging rights in a pulsating Battle of the Borough encounter after recovering from an 8-6 half-time deficit with a strong second-half display in Leigh.

Peet believes Wigan’s defensive connection laid the foundations for an important victory against one of the competition’s strongest sides.

“Very good opposition, great atmosphere,” Peet said.

“I think Leigh are a really well-rounded team, connected, talented, and we had to be at our best to get the result, certainly defensively, I thought we were very good in the 80 and then with the ball, we found our way a little bit in the second half, but I think it was more one for defensive connection and just keep turning up for one another.

“Leigh throw a lot at you, so we had to be very good defensively.

“Everyone was good, but I thought Zach (Eckersley) and Noah (Hodkinson) on our right edge, apart from that try in the first half, I thought they came up with some big plays and some of those turnovers led to points as well. We didn’t get to practice with that wing-centre combination, so it was really good to see how well they adapted.”

With Adam Keighran ruled out through a minor groin injury, youngster Noah Hodkinson was drafted into the starting side on the wing, while Zach Eckersley shifted into the centres.

Peet was delighted with how the pair handled Leigh’s dangerous left-edge attack despite having little time to prepare together.

“He was tested as well,” Peet said of Hodkinson’s display.

“I think Leigh throw a lot at you in terms of attacking shape. Their last plays are as good as anyone in the competition, so Noah and Liam (Marshall) certainly had their hands full dealing with the kicks.”

On Eckersley’s move into the centres, Peet added: “I must admit, as a coach, when you’ve not had chance to practice, you throw a new combination, especially when that left edge of Leigh’s is as deadly as it is, there was a little bit of quick chat in the changing rooms and credit to those two, they got it right and adapted on the run, so I liked it.”

Peet was also pleased with the way his players responded after a difficult first half on the attacking front.

“I think structurally, we were very good defensively as well as all the effort and energy things that you look for as a coach,” he said.

“I thought we made good decisions within our defence as well when Leigh were playing their shape as they do, but I think the character to get in at half-time when we hadn’t really nailed the first, identifying what needed to be better and then go out and implement that.

“You’re going to have weeks when you don’t put an 80-minute ideal performance together, but having that character to be able to identify it and fix it, is an important one.”

Despite beating one of their rivals in the race for a top-two finish, Peet insists he won’t be viewing it as a statement victory.

“Honestly, no, I don’t think it does,” he said when asked whether it felt like a marker victory.

“It’s just a good win against a good team, I don’t really believe in all that marker sort of stuff. It’s very live from week to week and we take it for what it is.”