Wigan Warriors v Catalan Dragons: coach Matt Peat wants game to be test for title challenge

Castleford Tigers v Wigan  WarriorsCastleford Tigers v Wigan  Warriors
Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors | Bernard Platt @plattyphoto
Matt Peet thinks Wigan’s biggest test so far is on Thursday night at the DW Stadium.

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet expects the upcoming Catalans Dragons game to be an acid test for any potential title challenge.

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After two consecutive Super League wins at an aggregate score of 96-0, Peet thinks Wigan’s biggest test so far is on Thursday night at the DW Stadium, which will be televised on Sky Sports. The France-based Dragons have made the perfect unbeaten start to their campaign with victories over Wakefield Trinity, Leigh Leopards and Hull FC.

Peet said: “This is probably the first week for a few where I'm expecting a high level. Catalans are going to come and play us at our own game. They want to complete high turnovers and good field position, pin us down and we want to do the same to them. So, I think this will be a really intense game and probably a better indicator of where we're up to.”

Despite losing their opening game against Hull KR, Wigan returned with comprehensive wins over Wakefield and Castleford Tigers, keeping both from scoring to have the league’s highest points difference at 87.

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This winning mentality was crucial for Peet in last season’s Challenge Cup victory and reaching the Super League play-off stages.

“You try and keep it business as usual as much as you can,” he said. “But the fact is the players are smart, they know that they're playing good teams and although our process remains the same, they know there's a challenge that awaits and they know that they've got to be at it. Otherwise they'll get turned over.

“There's a team coming a long way to turn us over so we know we're going to have a battle on our hands.”

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Crucial to Wigan’s early success this season has been winger Liam Marshall, who is the league’s top try scorer with eight - on track to beat his total of 21 from the last campaign.

However, Peet was not worried about an over-reliance on the 26-year-old, reassuring of his team’s threat across the field with the likes of Bevan French, Jai Field and Jake Wardle.

He said: “Let other people worry about stopping him [Marshall] and that'll probably create a space for someone else - our right wing is not bad. I guess if people start worrying too much about one player, it opens up space for others.

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“If you look at Liam's tries, a lot of them are built on hard work and effort and being in the right place. There's not too many ways you can stop that - it's just credit to his hard work.”

A win for Wigan would put them top of the Super League table ahead of both Catalans and current leaders Warrington Wolves, who play Hull KR on Friday.

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