My prince Harry
PEET HAILS STAR SMITH
BOSS Matt Peet hailed Harry Smith as a “coach’s dream” as the crafty England scrum-half steered Wigan to Wembley.
Ruthless Warriors ran in seven tries to embarrass Hull KR and emphatically book their place in the Challenge Cup final.
They were beaten in golden point by the same opponents in last year’s semi-final.
Many expected a similar titanic tussle here. But errorprone Rovers failed to show up and wonderful Wigan delivered a masterclass.
Smith claimed man of the match with a try and two goals, full-back Jai Field dazzled and teenage forward Junior Nsemba proved immense up front for the World Club champions.
Winger Abbas Miski (2), centre Jake Wardle (2), Nsemba and Tyler Dupree all also crossed.
Peet said: “Harry’s outstanding. It’s like a coach’s dream when you have a player on the field who, when you feel you need to do something, just does it.
“The best thing for a scrum-half is when his team-mates love him. And they do here because he does a lot of the tough stuff as well. I feel his team will run through a brick wall for him. I’m proud of their performance today.
“It’s great to get to Wembley. Not just because it’s Hull KR and what happened last year.
“We learned a lot that day, loads of little things. We’re a more balanced team now.”
Wigan face the winners of today’s semi-final between Warrington and Huddersfield on June 8.
Wardle went over after just four minutes before Bevan French lofted a lovely pinpoint chip for Miski to score. Nsemba grabbed Wigan’s third try off Smith’s short pass.
Joe Burgess inexplicably fumbled Wardle’s grubber to gift Miski his second. And in the restart set, Burgess and KR’s right-edge defence disappeared again, allowing Liam Marshall to set up Smith. Adam Keighran converted for a 24-0 lead and it was plain sailing from there.
Rovers boss Willie Peters said: “They showed why they are world champions. They’re the benchmark for the competition. We knew that and know where we need to get to.”
● Holders St Helens reached a fourth successive women’s Challenge Cup final with a 32-2 rout of York and will face the winners of today’s semi-final between Leeds and Wigan.