Challenge Cup final: Wigan Warriors’ Matt Peet hails win over Warrington Wolves as ‘best’ trophy yet

Matt Peet declared Wigan Warriors’ Betfred Challenge Cup triumph the best of his reign so far on an emotional day at Wembley.

The Warriors’ 18-8 triumph marked the second time head coach Peet has guided his hometown club to rugby league’s oldest and most prestigious knockout prize, having lifted the trophy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium two years ago .

It comes on the back of Wigan, who claimed the Betfred Super League Grand Final and League Leaders’ Shield last year and the World Club Challenge earlier this year, and means they keep every trophy up for grabs – sealing their 21st Challenge Cup triumph one day. when sport came together to honor the memory of Rob Burrow CBE.

• Wigan Warriors deny Warrington Wolves rookie head coach Sam Burgess Challenge Cup glory
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“This is the best,” said Peet, reflecting on his team’s win. “I just felt the momentum of things was shaping up to be a tough game.

“There was a lot going on around the game so I was just proud that the players committed to each other the way they did.

“I think it’s an exciting week for everyone in rugby league. Rob is such a special character and stirs emotions for everyone.

“That was part of it, I think. When I talk about our motivation, it was more around the carrot of achieving something special, putting the fourth trophy in the cabinet.”

One of those particularly moved by the day’s tributes to Burrow, who died last Sunday aged 41 after a long battle with motor neurone disease, was Wigan’s Bevan French, whose mother died after being diagnosed with MND. good.

The Warriors’ 16-14 victory over Huddersfield Giants in 2022 came after her switch and marked the first trophy won by the Australian, with the French this time seeing him win the Lance Todd Trophy after scoring a try and putting a another game. for Zach Eckersley.

“A few years ago I lost my mom to the same thing,” French said. “I connected a little bit emotionally.

“The fact that Rob died like that and it was also the Challenge Cup, which was the first trophy I won after my mum died from the same thing.

“All I was thinking was that we talked about a club, what we now collectively own.”

Warrington’s defeat meant rookie head coach Sam Burgess was denied lifting the Challenge Cup in his first season at the helm, although Wolves are still battling at the top of Super League along with reigning champions Wigan.

While naturally disappointed with the result, Burgess believes the experience will stand him in good stead as he focuses on the second half of the league campaign.

“We have a young side with 12 players who have never played in a final so you like to think we will be better next time,” Burgess said. “It’s an experience for us as a group.

“I wouldn’t say we froze, but the opportunity probably got to us a little bit early.

“We didn’t play the way we played all year and that’s the most disappointing thing about the day.

Smith hails “remarkable” Saints after another cup triumph

Matty Smith struggled to imagine how St Helens could improve on their performance after his side claimed their fourth consecutive Women’s Challenge Cup crown with a ruthless 22-0 win over Leeds at Wembley.

Faye Gaskin scored the first of four Saints tries and kicked three conversions as the holders punished their below par opponents who duly slipped to a third consecutive Challenge Cup final defeat.

“Our defensive display today won us the game,” said St Helens head coach Smith. “We were simply exceptional. I don’t know how we can make this better, to be honest – I couldn’t be happier right now.

“We saved the best performance of the last month for the biggest stage. Leeds are a quality side, but what we’ve done in the last four years, to go back-to-back, is something we’ll never get tired of.”

Phoebe Hook, Luci McColm and Chantelle Crowl also scored tries as Leeds, sporting club hero Burrow’s name on the back of their shirts, barely missed a beat.

Leeds head coach Lois Forsell admitted an emotional week could have taken its toll, but stressed she had no excuses for a sub-par display from her side.

“We had a lot of different influences during the week and it was a tough one, but today was about getting the job done and we weren’t good enough on the day,” Forsell said.

“We made enough individual errors and didn’t put into practice what we had done in training. We didn’t show up as a collective and I don’t think we gave a true account of ourselves.”

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