It only needs Matty Peet to think of legendary Wigan “enforcer” Kelvin Skerrett to be reminded why he wants to return Challenge Cup glory to the club.
The rookie head coach grew up watching the brilliant Warriors side that won the famous trophy eight years running from 1988 to 1995. But they have not lifted it since 2013 - a relative famine - and something Wiganer Peet hopes to remedy in his first season in charge. They face holders and fierce rivals St Helens at Elland Road on Saturday for a place in the final, held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rather than Wembley on May 28.
And fearsome ex-Great Britain prop Skerrett, one of the most aggressive forwards of the 1990s, is never far from Peet’s mind when he looks for inspiration. He said: “It was a team of internationals who you got to watch weekly. I think that’s what fostered a lot of people in Wigan to love the game: the success and glory days, the homecomings back to the town and Central Park.
“It’s those sort of memories that inspire and motivate me and the team to try and bring elements of that back to the town. The likes of Dean Bell, Shaun Edwards, Andy Gregory and Martin Offiah inspired me. But as a youngster, if anyone asked me who my favourite was I’d say Kelvin Skerett.
“It was almost because he was an enforcer: all-action - and a good player to boot - but you knew if anyone was going to try and get stuck into Gregory or Edwards, it wouldn’t take him long to get stuck in. He was someone I held in high esteem as a kid.”
While Skerrett had a famous temper, Wigan will need level heads to overcome Super League champions Saints. They are only top of the table due to a better points difference than Wigan, but they did win the Good Friday derby between the sides. Peet concedes his side need to deliver their best performance of the year in “defence and attack” to overcome them.
But he is desperate to help younger Wigan fans experience what he once did. He recalled: "I probably went six or seven times to Wembley. It became something you took for granted as a kid. Not only going to Wembley but seeing the trophy, having it in school, seeing the players come out, the shops dressed up in cherry and white.
“It becomes an expectation. And with that comes a bit of confidence it will carry on forever which obviously isn’t the case. When I hear how we’ve not won it since 2013 it hurts because people I know are missing out. They are not getting to go to these games and celebrate. I see it as our job to bring that back. But we can only do it one game at a time.”
