Wigan and Hull KR prepare for game of the season

Two titans of nan Super League play meet connected Friday successful a lucifer that could pave nan measurement to nan victor wrapping up nan League Leaders' Shield.

Second-placed Wigan Warriors, who person already sealed a stunning triumph successful nan World Club Challenge and lifted nan Challenge Cup this term, invited leaders Hull KR to nan Brick Community Stadium for a immense game.

From not deeming Hull KR to beryllium a "surprise package" to Friday's visitors not caring wherever nan fixture is played, plentifulness has been said successful nan run-up to their face-off, conscionable 3 games from nan extremity of nan regular season.

BBC Sport looks astatine really some sides are preparing for nan biggest crippled of nan 2024 Super League campaign.

Regardless of nan consequence or, indeed, nan measurement nan remainder of nan play pans out, it has been a superb run for Wigan Warriors.

With Matt Peet astatine nan helm, nan Cherry and Whites person enjoyed a stunning spell of occurrence aft he took complete arsenic caput coach earlier nan 2022 season.

Peet has won conscionable astir everything you tin arsenic a coach, firstly nan Challenge Cup conscionable a matter of months into his debut season, and ending St Helens' spell of power to return triumph successful past season's Super League Grand Final.

And that is earlier we get to their history-making World Club Challenge conclusion of Penrith Panthers and triumph against Sam Burgess' Warrington Wolves astatine Wembley successful this season's Challenge Cup final.

"They've put nan clip successful connected and disconnected nan section to gain nan occurrence they're enjoying," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester of opponents Hull KR.

"Everyone tin spot they're going to beryllium competing not conscionable this play but for a agelong clip to come."

Hull KR leader Willie Peters has likewise transformed his side's fortunes, albeit astatine a nine extracurricular nan fewer that person dominated nan Super League era, and Peet thinks their ascension is benefitting nan league.

"I deliberation it's bully for nan game, nan much teams you tin adhd to nan competition. For maine it's not a caller phase, because we've played Hull KR successful a fewer semi-finals and they were successful a Challenge Cup last not excessively agelong ago," Peet added.

"They're further down nan statement than being a caller look - and it's been rather accordant since Willie took over."

More than 2,000 Hull KR supporters will make nan travel crossed nan M62 to spot their broadside return connected past season's League Leaders' Shield winners.

Victory connected Friday will mean Hull KR will move wrong rubbing region of lifting nan shield for nan first clip successful nan Super League era.

The Robins convincingly hit Wigan 26-10 astatine Craven Park this season, but Peters does not judge his broadside will beryllium astatine a disadvantage successful nan return fixture.

"They're not going to springiness you thing astatine Craven Park aliases going to their place," he told BBC Sport.

"It doesn't matter wherever you play teams. As agelong arsenic you judge successful really you want to play and train consistently passim nan week.

"Just because we're playing astatine Wigan it doesn't make it immoderate harder. If they came present nan crippled would still beryllium difficult, there's nary uncertainty astir that."

Hull KR's position astatine nan apical of nan array has not been handed to them - Peters has masterminded a colossal campaign, which sees them make nan travel to Wigan connected nan backmost of 8 consecutive victories.

"We're going to beryllium playing against a very bully squad who person nan aforesaid beliefs and attack to their crippled arsenic we do," he added.

"You request to gain nan correct to play successful these games arsenic they don't travel that often. They are tight games and erstwhile you get opportunities you request to return advantage of it.

"We've put ourselves successful a beardown position by moving hard. The players cognize that, and they'll proceed to do that."

Wigan welcomed backmost nan talismanic Bevan French aft 8 games retired for their victory successful Perpignan against Catalans Dragons coming into their tussle pinch Hull KR.

French does not judge that labelling their opponents arsenic a astonishment is accurate, fixed their earthy progression connected nan measurement to challenging astatine nan top.

"I don't spot them arsenic a astonishment package astatine all. They've been building nicely complete nan past mates of years and they conscionable look to support getting amended and better," French told BBC Radio Manchester.

"It's a awesome trial for us. This is what you want to do - you want to beryllium playing against nan champion of nan best, truthful there's nary astonishment astatine each connected our end."

What is nan cardinal to Hull KR's commanding position? Winger Ryan Hall suggests their consistency and mindset has paid dividends.

"We said successful pre-season arsenic a activity group that it would beryllium really bully this twelvemonth if each Monday you wouldn't beryllium capable to conjecture really we played astatine nan weekend," Hall told BBC Sport.

"We said if we travel retired aft a conclusion nan aforesaid arsenic we do a win, and effort and train for illustration that, we'd get immoderate consistency which we've tried to do each year.

"We said we are going to suffer games this twelvemonth but we've tried not to dwell connected them excessively much. Of people we study from them and analyse what we request to, but we move connected and look to nan adjacent game."