Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet delivers Wakefield Trinity big compliment ahead of Super League clash

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet believes Wakefield Trinity have all the ingredients to become a regular force at the top end of Super League as the Cherry and Whites prepare for Friday night’s trip to West Yorkshire.

The Warriors travel to the DIY Kitchens Stadium looking to continue their strong run of form after following up Challenge Cup final glory at Wembley with an impressive 40-16 win over Catalans Dragons in Paris last weekend.

However, Peet is expecting another stern test from a Wakefield side sitting third in the Super League table heading into Round 14, having won nine of their opening 13 league fixtures.

The two sides have already met once this season, with Wigan edging a thrilling Challenge Cup quarter-final 26-22 at the DIY Kitchens Stadium before going on to lift the trophy at Wembley.

Asked whether he expects a similar contest this time around, Peet said: “100 per cent. It’s a great place to go and play a team who challenge you in every way, really.

“They shape up very well and move the ball with quality and ability, but they’ve got very good athletes in their own right. They’ve got everything you could look for in a quality team, and they are going to be at the top end of the table for many years to come, I think.

“They are a very ambitious club with quality coaches, so we know we’ve got a tough battle coming.”

Wakefield have been one of the success stories of the Super League season so far, and Peet admits there is plenty to admire about Daryl Powell’s side.

“I think they’ve got a lot to them,” he said. “They throw as good attacking shape as anyone and constant shape, but they’ve got outstanding athletes if you look at their ball carriers.

“It’s alright solving the shape, but we’ve got to deal with some strong ball carriers, so it is a combination of the two, and then defensively, they are very resilient, they’ve got physicality, so there is a lot to like across the park, as we’ve seen - their results speak for themselves.”

While some may have been surprised by Wakefield’s rise this season, Peet insists he saw it coming.

“Not surprised me at all,” he said.

“I think they were a play-off team last year and I think they’ve got a dedicated owner, a first-class coach, ambition, they’ve recruited again, they’ve got good young players who are getting better all the time, the likes of Corey Hall, Oliver Pratt, Jack Sinfield.

“I think they’ve got all the ingredients of a quality Super League club, so I think they are a proper team, and more importantly, they are a proper club.

“If you look at what they’ve got going on in their pathways as well, the stadium, the training facility - I think they are doing a lot of things right.”

Wigan head into the contest on the back of two major occasions at Wembley and in Paris, but Peet is confident his side remain fully focused on the task ahead.

“We’re hoping with the way we’ve trained, the excitement of the fixture, if there is a lull, then we’ll get beaten - it’s dead simple,” he said. “The players are aware of that, and I think the fixture itself and the challenge ahead should keep our players, our coaches and me highly motivated.

“We feel like it’s a very exciting game in its own right - it’s following a few big games, but we see it right in that bracket.”