Wigan's warrior Peet's passion and philosophy leads him to chance of Grand Final glory

There are many words you could use to describe Matt Peet but after an enlightening afternoon in the company of the Wigan Warriors coach, it quickly becomes apparent that ordinary is not one of them. 

Tomorrow Peet will become one of the youngest coaches in Super League history to lead his team out in the Grand Final when the Warriors face Catalans Dragons. Many of his contemporaries have had straightforward journeys to coaching rugby league's elite; an impressive playing career as professionals before a seamless transition into coaching.

However, the 39-year-old's journey to the biggest game on the Super League calendar is fascinating, and certainly not orthodox. It involves a degree in English, a grounding on the playing fields of Wigan's amateur clubs, Catholicism and an obsession with reading philosophy. To suggest Peet isn't your average rugby league coach would be putting it mildly.

"I probably do take a bit more pride the way I've got to this point," Peet explains to the Guardian. "A lot of people have put trust in me over the years because I haven't gone the linear way and when I walk out at Old Trafford on Saturday I'll be proud to represent the club, my family, the people who've trusted me but most importantly, the community and the town of Wigan."

Peet was raised in a family that had two main passions: Catholicism and Wigan rugby. "My grandparents' houses had a picture of the Pope next to a picture of Billy Boston," he smiles. "It was ingrained in me; the family habits revolved around going to church and going to Central Park." It meant that playing rugby league was inevitable but as his peers were signed to professional deals, Peet had less luck.