Breaking: Wigan Warriors Coach Voices Frustration, Says Players ‘Deserve Better’ Following Technology Blunder in Wakefield Trinity Loss
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet has strongly criticized the officiating technology used during his side’s narrow defeat to Wakefield Trinity, saying his players “deserve better” after a costly error played a significant role in the final result.
The Warriors fell 20-18 in a nail-biting Super League encounter at Belle Vue, but it was a controversial decision involving the video review system that left Wigan fuming post-match. During a pivotal second-half moment, Wigan appeared to have scored what could have been a match-winning try, only for the effort to be overturned after a video referee intervention — one that Peet and many fans now believe was influenced by a technological glitch.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Peet didn’t hold back. “The lads put in everything tonight,” he said. “We train hard, we prepare right, and we compete with integrity. To have the outcome taken out of their hands by a technical failure — it’s not good enough. They deserve better than that.”
The incident in question occurred in the 68th minute when winger Liam Marshall dived over in the corner. While the on-field referee awarded the try initially, the decision was referred to the video official. Following a lengthy delay, and to the shock of the Wigan players and traveling supporters, the try was disallowed — reportedly due to an inconclusive angle caused by a camera malfunction.
According to reports, one of the primary broadcast camera feeds failed at a critical moment, leading to insufficient evidence to confirm the grounding of the ball. Despite no clear footage suggesting a knock-on or error, the try was not given, sparking outrage among fans and confusion on the pitch.
Peet emphasized the psychological toll moments like this can have on players. “You ask players to dig deep, especially in tough away fixtures, and they do. And when something beyond their control changes the result, it’s heartbreaking,” he said.
While the Rugby Football League (RFL) has yet to issue a formal apology or explanation regarding the technological mishap, there is growing pressure from Wigan and other clubs for an urgent review of the video referee process, particularly around system reliability and accountability.
Wigan captain Liam Farrell also shared his disappointment. “We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect a fair chance. That moment changed the game, and we felt we had done enough to earn the points.”
Wakefield Trinity, on the other hand, celebrated a hard-fought victory that moves them up the table, but even their head coach admitted the game was “too close to call” and acknowledged the controversy surrounding the video decision.
As the debate continues, the spotlight is now firmly on the RFL’s use of video technology, with calls growing louder for investment in better systems and clearer protocols to ensure future games are not marred by similar mistakes.
