In normal circumstances, a score like Hull KR 62 – Wigan Warriors 4 would make me do cartwheels down Preston Road¹ in glee. Instead, tonight’s result just leaves me feeling rather sad and despondent. I want to make it clear that this is not due to any questions around ‘the integrity of the game’ or similar. I am well aware that Wigan are far from the first side to field a weakened side the week before a final, hell, even Rovers did it, in 2023, and against Wigan too, resulting in a similar scoreline.

My issue is one of player welfare and safety. I can’t help but think that Wigan have put several young, developing players in an unenviable and potentially dangerous situation. There was no question after the 21-man squads were released on Tuesday that Matty Peet was conserving his first team for Wembley, and not wanting to show his hand. This, in itself, is an indicator of how much of a threat Peet knows Rovers are, and this is his prerogative. As I say, he is not the first, and won’t be the last, coach to make that call. What is questionable, though, is throwing in a team made up predominantly of 18-19-year-olds against a team full of seasoned campaigners. That is, at best, a reckless call, and at worst, a dangerous one.

Firstly, there is the issue of the mental effect this game might have. Now, I know that this team would have known they were in for a hiding tonight, and I dare say they built them tough enough in Wigan to not let the result affect them, but put yourself in the shoes of one of the ten youngsters making their debut tonight; you’re thrown into a game you don’t have much hope of winning, against the World Champions, lets not forget, who are physically and mentally tougher than you. Wouldn’t a night like tonight leave a scar on you? I know it would leave one on me. In this regard, they were shown a brazen lack of care by all involved. That isn’t to say there isn’t credit due, by the way. There were several players from Wigan who more than did their bit. In particular, the fullback Josh Cartwright, and two wingers Nathan Lowe and Austin Daniel were exemplary under relentless high bombs. I’m sure this game will have little effect on their development, and they will go on to have stellar careers.

Then, there’s the question of physicality. As stated earlier, Wigan fielded a side that is only just old enough to be considered adults, and I don’t care how many protein shakes they have for breakfast, or how many “fish, and a rice cake” they have in their diet, they just weren’t physically matched up to their opposite numbers. These are young men who are still developing physically (at least some of them are). One bad tackle or bad landing, and that’s their promising career snuffed out in an instant, and for what? To save a few bodies for the cup final? It’s a good job they did come through unscathed, and I’m sure some might think I’m being hysterical, but would you be thinking that if something terrible had happened in a mismatched collision?

As a final point, just think about how Sky must feel about tonight’s match. Now, I know that Sky’s coverage is divisive, to put it mildly, but they are bankrolling this sport. If Sky said goodbye to rugby league tomorrow, and there was no immediate and equitable replacement, the sport would be, if you’ll forgive the phrase, up shit creek without a paddle. You could say goodbye to your full-time professionalism, that’s for certain, and to say that Sky have promoted this as their main match of the weekend, and billed it with dramatic videos, labelling it the ‘Grand Final rematch’, do you think they’ll be happy with what happened at Craven Park? I don’t think so.

In conclusion, it’s a dangerous game for Matty Peet to be playing. Just to circle back to a point I made near the start of this rant cunningly disguised as an article, Hull KR did the same thing Wigan did tonight in 2023. Did it help? No, they were beaten by Leigh, as we all remember. So, when Willie Peters had his time again in 2025, did he do the same thing? No. He named as strong a side as he could against St Helens, and won. We all remembered what happened after that. I’m not saying the same thing is destined to happen again, but if indeed Rovers do beat Wigan next Saturday, then Matty Peet would have lost a final, two league points, and his points difference will have taken a hammering. Only time will tell if this comes to pass.

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Huyll KR fan)

1. An exaggeration for comic effect, I assure you. If I attempted this, it would result in a lengthy hospital stay for me, at best. ↩︎