2023 Season Preview: Wigan Warriors

After winning the Challenge Cup in 2022 but losing out in the Grand Final, Matt Peet will be extremely keen to build on last season’s success in his first year as a first-team coach.

Wigan had plenty of doubters heading into 2022 following a dismal at times 2021, but the Warriors stuck their chests out and proved the critics wrong as Peet built an undeniably impressive culture at the D.W. Stadium which saw Wigan go the entire playing season unbeaten at home prior to their Semi-Final defeat.

But with 2023 around the corner, Wigan will be looking to improve on last year’s finish and add some more silverware to Matt Peet’s showcase.

They’ve added some strength in depth with a familiar name re-joining the cherry and whites as they announced the resigning of Ryan Hampshire from Castleford along with the Toby King officially signing permanently after leaving Warrington Wolves in mid 2022 and Jake Wardle joining from Huddersfield Giants.

They’ve also trimmed the squad, losing the likes of Jake Bibby who went in the other direction as part of the Wardle deal as well as Jack Bibby and Sam Halsall who both also joined the Giants. In addition, Ollie Partington joined Salford, John Bateman returned down under for the Tigers and club legend Tommy Leuluai announced his retirement.

Their 2023 campaign kicks off with a trip to Hull KR before two expectedly winnable games against Wakefield and Castleford respectively, and with knowing how consistent league title favourites St Helens have been over the past four years, Matt Peet will know how key a strong start will be, speaking to the press ahead of the new season he said:

“It’s exciting now, we’re getting close. We’ve been training hard, we’re motivated and I cant question the lads effort, but the hard work certainly lies ahead of us.

“It feels like the staff and players are working well together, but I can’t stress enough, its when the tests come that you find out how deep those connections run. We look forward to that challenge.

“I had a great start to life here, now we’re looking into how we can go further and be better in every department. It’s important that we learn quick so we can develop quick.”

Looking towards the end of the campaign where the business results begin to start, Catalan, Salford and Leeds all feature in Wigan’s last five games of the regular season and will prove that consistency is going to be huge for Wigan and everyone in the league who’s got realistic aims of domestic success in 2023.

Arrivals:

Jake Wardle (Huddersfield), Toby King (Warrington), Ryan Hampshire (Castleford).

Departures:

Jack Bibby, Jake Bibby, Sam Halsall (all Huddersfield), Ollie Partington (Salford), Tommy Leuluai (retired), John Bateman (Wests Tigers).

 

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