Matt Peet's Wigan Warriors era is underway and the possibilities are enormous

As a lover of poetry, an emotional Matty Peet could see the romance in Wigan Warriors lifting the Challenge Cup, rugby league’s oldest and most famous trophy, in his first season as head coach. His men beat Huddersfield Giants 16-14 in dramatic fashion to confirm the new chapter being patiently written by Peet is one of substance.

He gained a 2:1 degree in English at Manchester Metropolitan University before embarking on a career in coaching and taking charge of his hometown club at the end of last year. It has been a circuitous route to the top for the 38-year-old Wiganer, who never played the game professionally and was realistic enough to admit beforehand that winning was everything.

The cherry and whites are a club which exist to win trophies and Peet’s men did just that at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of a crowd of 51,628, Liam Marshall’s thrilling try four minutes from time deciding the match. Huddersfield were on course for their first Challenge Cup since 1953 until Wigan’s effervescent scrum-half Harry Smith collected possession inside the left flank and sent a delightful grubber kick behind the Giants’ defence.

Marshall, a hometown boy, arrived at pace to ground the ball in front of the ecstatic Wigan hordes. It was a record-extending 20th Challenge Cup success for arguably the biggest club in the British game.

You had to sympathise with Huddersfield, who fought bravely from start to finish but were ultimately made to pay for full-back Tui Lolohea succeeding with only one of his five attempts at goal. Peet, a Wiganer who watched the club’s all-conquering side as a child, said: “I’m delighted we got the win – so many people have worked so hard.

“There was a massive turnout from the town and the players