You can see Rovers are in it for the long haul, says Peet
WIGAN Warriors coach Matt Peet believes the entire Super League division will be in awe of what Hull KR are doing on and off the field in 2023.
Rovers and the Warriors are joint second on the ladder, and whoever wins tonight at Craven Park will leapfrog the other and gain momentum on leaders Warrington Wolves.
However, looking at the bigger picture, Peet is more than impressed with what Willie Peters is doing for the Robins.
Already going down to the red and whites once this season, the Wigan boss accepts Rovers are a team on the up and has plenty of respect for his latest counterparts.
“I think everyone has been impressed,” said Peet. “I think they played Salford after they beat us, and you could just see that it wasn’t a one-off.
“Since then, they were flying at one point with Abdull and Lewis playing together, then you take Jordan out, and they’ve remained consistent, which speaks volumes, and you realise then that it runs deeper than just a few individuals.
“That’s what Willie has instilled structurally and culturally along with Danny Mcguire.
“I think you can see this year that they are in it for the long haul, and it’s brilliant for Super League.
“For what’s happening at Hull KR, it has got some vibrancy about it on and off the field.”
On the game itself, Peet and his Warriors are seeking revenge for their 27-18 round one defeat back in February.
A hat-trick from Shaun Kennydowall was the difference that day and saw the start of Rovers’ rise to third on the ladder.
Even suffering multiple injuries to their spine, Peet knows his Wigan side will have to be at their best to leave Craven Park with the two points. Excited for the challenge, he identified which Robins will pose the most threat this evening and what has impressed him about Hull KR in 2023. “There’ll be no surprises this time. They’ve been really consistent.
I’ve got a lot of respect for the way Willie has got the team playing. I think their effort areas and their commitment to one another has been there in pretty much every game I’ve watched of them. “I know a few times their personnel has changed. You can see what they are about. Their identity is really strong. You align that with some of the talent they’ve got in Shaun Kennydowall, Ryan Hall, Kane Linnett and Mikey Lewis and the two running nines, Jez Litten and Matt Parcell. I think they are a team who will still be around these positions at the back end of the year, I don’t see them going away, and I don’t see them going away during this game either. “They are a really honest team, and I think it’ll be a game where effort areas and energy are tested throughout. I look forward to it, it is definitely a challenge, but they are a good team, and we’ve got a lot of respect for them.”