Wigan Warriors' Tyler Dupree speaks out on Liam Watts red before Penrith test
Wigan's Tyler Dupree will look to bring Penrith to their knees and continue his fascinating meteoric rise.
It’s less than two years ago that the athletic prop was playing part-time with Widnes. But after a switch to Salford and then a big-money move to Warriors, he’s won a Grand Final, been capped by England and is now facing the Aussie champions in the World Club Challenge. Dupree, 24, admitted: “It’s something I was never expecting having only got into full-time rugby so recently.
“But I take everything in my stride. I am really looking forward to the opportunity and challenge ahead. I know how big the NRL is over there and I do watch it. We have respect for Penrith. But we’re a good team and we know we can basically beat anyone when we’re at our best. We just need to get the best out of ourselves and hopefully, the win comes off the back of that.”
If Matt Peet’s side do prosper in front of 24,000 fans at a bouncing DW Stadium on Saturday, it will mark a record-equalling fifth victory in the competition.
Penrith, who have claimed three successive NRL Grand Finals, are out to win it for the first time. They have New Zealand captain James Fisher-Harris at prop, the current Golden Boot holder who helped the Kiwis thrash Australia 30-0 in November along with fellow Penrith front-row Moses Leota.
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Dupree, yet to even lose in Wigan colours after ten straight wins since debuting in July, added: “Fisher-Harris was basically voted the best player in the world after his performances in that series. I want to test myself against players of that calibre. I’m really looking forward to seeing where I am and how I face off with these sorts of big players.
“It’s massive for me knowing where I want to be in my career as well playing against these sorts of players at international level. I want to be able to show I can hold my own against them for that as well.”
Wigan Warriors' Tyler Dupree (PA)He helped Wigan begin their title defence with a 32-4 victory at Castleford last Saturday. Dupree was one of the big talking points after Tigers prop Liam Watts was sent off and banned for four games for making shoulder contact with his head. The decision - both the dismissal and subsequent suspension - has split opinions.
However, with the RFL cracking down on head contacts in 2024, these sanctions will become the norm. Asked for his view, Dupree said: “It is a difficult one. But we’ve all been told not to make contact with the head. So, it is what it is. We’ve been warned what the consequences are.
“It’s not just Wattsy it’s happened to: it was all over round one. There will be some teething issues as players get used to it. But we’ve been given a set of rules to abide by to make the game safer and the match review panel and RFL are taking it very seriously."
Given the number of tackles they get through, props are perhaps the most susceptible to getting caught out. Yorkshireman Dupree, who featured against France and Tonga last year, insisted: "It’s strange to adapt but rugby league's a physical game which is always changing. I feel like us as a team at Wigan we are good at adapting. We’re learning the rules. It won’t change anything massively in our game but we’re abiding by the rules.”
Ironically, though, the World Club Challenge will be played under international rules so the RFL’s stricter stance on head contacts won’t be applied. Dupree conceded: “That is a difficult one: we’re trying to get used to the new rules and then a week in we’re changing back to what essentially they were anyway. But we’ll play how we play and hopefully, it works for us. We can’t wait to get going.”
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