With a cumulative score of 92-24, the Cherry and Whites have emerged victorious in all three of this year’s Battle of the Borough matches.
Wigan have won their last 15 home meetings against Leigh, with Adrian Lam’s Leopards having defeated Salford 14-6 in the eliminator play-offs to reach the next stage of the competition.
While all was going on, Peet’s team was in Bath last week for a training camp. They qualified for the semi-finals right away after ending the regular season atop the Super League standings and winning back-to-back League Leaders’ Shields for the first time.
Peet remarked, “I think we’re in a good place.”
We had a good week’s training last week, got some hard work done and managed to rest up over the weekend.
Being in the semi-final against Leigh, a fantastic team, is an honor, and we are excited about it.
“Our situation is favorable.”
Leigh has never advanced this far in the Super League tournament, and they are just 80 minutes away from their first-ever Grand Final.
The Leigh Sports Village outfit had never finished higher than 11th in the top flight ahead of their promotion at the end of 2022, and Lam has since guided the side to the 2023 Challenge Cup, and their first-ever play-off finish last year.
Their thrilling victory over Paul Rowley’s Red Devils guaranteed them a spot in the semi-final, which is expected to draw 15,000 spectators to Brick Community Stadium on Saturday.
Peet went on, “I’m anticipating an intense game—that’s the word that comes to mind.”
They are a well-rounded club with some excellent athletes and class ball players. They have played with the appropriate level of physicality ever since Lammy (Adrian Lam) took control there.
“Semifinals are always quite difficult. There will be pressure and intensity from both teams as they strive to achieve what they believe is rightfully theirs, and Leigh’s quality will just make the competition more intense.
Under head coach Peet, reigning Super League winners Wigan are no strangers to pressure on the big stage, having won six titles in the last three years, including five straight.
They presently own every trophy in the game, and after winning the League Leaders’ Shield, the Challenge Cup, and the World Club Challenge, they plan to complete a clean sweep in 2024.
Peet stated, “We do try to enjoy and embrace it (pressure).”
You’re always looking for that perfect balance between, perhaps, fear, nervousness, and confidence.
“What you’re looking for during the game is that we all, players and staff, perform the best we can, execute close to our best rugby and if we achieve that, regardless of the result, we can be proud.”
