Wigan Warriors coach calls for Super League State of Origin return

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet has called on the powers that be to resurrect the ‘Lancashire v Yorkshire’ State of Origin-style games to aid the seemingly desperate situation representative rugby league in the Northern Hemisphere finds itself in.

Four of Peet’s Warriors players featured for Shaun Wane’s England side as they beat France 40-8 in Toulouse last Saturday – Harry Smith, Tyler Dupree, Brad O’Neill & Luke Thompson.

Additionally, Tiaki Chan – who has spent time out on loan at Hull FC – was in Laurent Frayssinous’ France squad.

But what should have been a spectacle never was going to be. The game wasn’t broadcast on television, solely on Super League+, and clashed directly with a UEFA EURO 2024 game.

Added to that, just 4,500 spectators watched the game in person at Toulouse’s Stade Ernest-Wallon. More than that turned up to watch the Championship clash which followed between Olympique and Featherstone Rovers.

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet calls for Super League State of Origin return amid international fallout

The fallout from last Saturday’s event, rather than the game itself, has not been pretty. Plenty of supporters, media outlets – including ourselves – and Super League coaches have had their say.

And in his press conference looking ahead to Wigan’s Round 16 clash against Leigh Leopards, Warriors boss Peet had his, suggesting that the Origin-style games may well be the way to go.

He said: “I think we’re all honest enough to know it’s not what we want to see when we’re watching international games.

“When these players have worked to reach what is the pinnacle of the sport, you want them to be playing in front of big crowds on television. When that doesn’t happen, you’re disappointed for the players more than anything.