Leigh cannot afford to slip up if they want to keep Super League dream alive, says Phil Clarke
Wednesday 19 August 2015 12:55, UK
Leigh's Super League dream is hanging in the balance ahead of their clash with Wakefield, says Phil Clarke.
Played two, lost two. That certainly wasn't the plan at the Leigh Sports Village when they talked about their promotion back into Super League.
After a season of smiles when all looked so simple, it's obvious now that things won't be that easy for the Centurions. Perhaps they believed the hype, and it's hard to blame them if they did. They'd hardly lost a game in their own division for the last two seasons and they'd beaten Salford and Wakefield in the Challenge Cup, along with pushing the Wolves in a competitive contest.
However, with just five games left in the Qualifiers, they're under extreme pressure. Not only have they lost, they've conceded over 80 points in two games and they wouldn't be human if they didn't have some self-doubt right now.
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It was a surprise to me when I checked the stats, as only Halifax have made fewer breaks than Leigh after 160 minutes of action, and for a team with a reputation of throwing the ball around, only Sheffield have thrown fewer passes. However, they have scored two of the most entertaining tries I've seen this season when they attack from deep within their own half.
For some crimes in California it's three strikes and you're out (or on your way to jail!). Well, the Centurions won't get sent to prison if they lose to Wakefield on Saturday, but it might mean that they won't walk into Super League as their supporters expected a month ago.
Their victory over the Wildcats in the Cup back in May makes me think that they have less chance of winning this match. That shouldn't be a surprise. Wakefield have a bigger budget to spend on players, and, on paper, have a stronger, fitter and more skilful side.
This feels to me like a 'sudden death' contest, and so much has gone into getting Leigh here.
The Wildcats team that will play at Leigh on Saturday is virtually unrecognisable from the one that played against the Centurions in the Cup - only a handful remain - which makes it an even bigger challenge.
The news this week that a Leigh player, Sean Penkywicz, has once again failed a drug test will not help to calm a club desperately in need of a win either. I've seen lots of teams turn off-field dramas into on-field success but they're not usually the 'underdog'. This feels to me like a 'sudden death' contest, and so much has gone into getting Leigh here.
I know they'll then play Sheffield, Halifax and Bradford, and could win all three, but I don't fancy their chances in the last game against Widnes. They are a bit like the high-wire daredevil, Philippe Petit, as he stepped out to walk between the Twin Towers of New York back in the '70s. One slip now and it could all be over.
It makes their match on Saturday with Wakefield the most fascinating of the weekend in my eyes. That might sound strange when you consider that there are three other games from the Super 8s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday live on Sky Sports (plus the option of watching Hull play Leeds on Sky Sports Xtra or on the Sky Sports iPad App) but this game has me fixated.
Paul Rowley seems like a hard working coach with the potential to be a "thought leader" for the sport in this country. He and his team have been on a steep learning curve over the last two years, but I think this could become vertical on Saturday afternoon. If he needs an example of staying calm and focused he should watch the film about Petit, 'Man on Wire' and remind his team that they need to hold their nerve.
If you've got anything that you need to do on Saturday, get up early and get it done, because I think this will be the most intense match of the weekend and a game you just have to see.
Watch Leigh v Wakefield live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Saturday from 3pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.
