Their CEOs may have weekly coffees and their coaches talk on the phone, but NRL target Danny Walker says many Wigan and Warrington players have far more frosty relationships.
The Las Vegas rivals launched their competitive seasons this weekend with Challenge Cup matches in Sheffield and Whitehaven, ahead of two Super League rounds which precede their eagerly awaited clash at Allegiant Stadium on March 1.
The involvement of the Warriors and Wolves was a result of the close relationship between their respective chief executives Kris Radlinski and Karl Fitzpatrick, who meet regularly to brainstorm about ways to promote the British game.
And although coaches Matty Peet and Sam Burgess were captured quarrelling at Wembley last year, Wigan’s Peet has said he would call Warrington’s Burgess for advice before the South Sydney legend took up the clipboard.
“It might be different for certain players - there might be lads, our players, who played for Wigan in the past who really, really want to get one over them,” Walker, who almost joined Canberra this season, told NRL.com
“It might be a little bit … there might be a couple of lads at our place who have been there and have left on a bit of a bitter taste.
I would say it’s a pretty fierce rivalry. For me, personally, it is anyway.
“I respect Wigan as a team, I respect them as a club, I respect them as a town too. You know, very similar towns - both working class people.
“But, yeah, it’s certainly a team I like beating.”
It was a dispute over something said following his departure from Wigan that led to half/hooker Sam Powell having a conversation with Peet before the 2024 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, which prompted Burgess to rebuke his opposite at full-time.
The confrontation was captured by cameras and may end up in an upcoming documentary.
“I think Sam and Matty are obviously pretty good mates aren’t they too?” Walker commented.
“They’ve known each other a long time. Whatever happened, I don’t really know.”
Walker also clarified comments made by Burgess - reported at NRL.com - about helping him in Australia in some way later in his career.
“There’s nothing with any clause or anything like that,” Walker said of his decision to re-sign until the end of 2029 despite NRL approaches.
“Sam was brilliant with me throughout it all. I made him aware that something might come up around July time ... In terms of an offer ... He talked to me about his experiences over there.
"He just wanted me to do what's right for me and my family and ultimately I feel I have done that.
"I've got too young girls at home and to move them over the other side of the world would have been really difficult.
I was pretty much done [at Canberra], in terms of in my head. I was half there mentally.
"I was excited to see how it had come about. But the only thing that was burning away in my head was I'd never forgive myself if I did leave and Warrington went on to win the Super League and I weren't a part of it.
"I 'm a Warrington boy. I lived a stone's throw away from the stadium all my life, went to all the games as a kid.
"If Warrington went on to win it ... I'd have been absolutely gutted and I don't think I'd have been able to forgive myself."
