HULL KR head coach Willie Peters has spilled all on the heated touchline exchange between himself and Wigan Warriors head coach in the aftermath of the 2024 Challenge Cup semi-final.
On their way to Challenge Cup success, Wigan met KR – their eventual Grand Final opponents – in the semi-finals at Doncaster.
The Warriors were far too good for the Robins on the day, but, in a documentary named ‘We are Wigan Warriors’, Wigan boss Matt Peet and Rovers head coach Willie Peters clashed at full-time.
During the documentary, Peet said: “Willie was down on the side rather than being in the box, protesting a lot. It was just how much of an effect they were trying to have on the officiating, which was unreasonable I thought for such a big game.”
At full-time, Peet made his way down to the pitch and said to Peters: “Stop crying! Stop crying! You’ve been here all game ranting away.”
That didn’t exactly go down well with Peters who replied: “I don’t need you f***ing saying ‘stop crying’. I’m coming over to congratulate you and say well done.”
Peet continued: “All through game your staff, you let yourselves down,” before Peters replied: “Mate you’re killing it, you’re doing a good job but don’t f***ing tell me to stop crying.”
The Wigan boss then ended with “Fair play, I apologise.”
Later on, Peet apologised again, saying in the documentary: “I apologised to him at the time and I gave him a call during the week and he was fine about it. It’s not something I was proud of.”
Now, Peters was asked about the exchange during his pre-match press conference with the Australian saying: “It was a long time ago. We’re both competitive, there were a few words after the game and Matt, to his credit, called me the week after and we had a good chat on the phone,” Peters said.
“There’s not much in it, two coaches after a game having a chat.
“What happened wasn’t common. It was something that happened that day. Matt said something, I said a few things back and that was it. We shook hands and spoke through the week. We played at Wigan and had a good chat and then the Grand Final.
“I respect Matt. I said that. He’s doing great things at Wigan. It was a long time ago.”
