Leigh: Qualifiers preview
Thursday 6 August 2015 15:33, UK
We take a look at Leigh's season so far, and look at their promotion hopes in the Middle 8s.
Story so far:
There’s been murmurings about Leigh’s planned assault on Super League ever since the concept of promotion and relegation was re-introduced to the competition. And that’s been all too obvious in their recruitment, with high quality players like Fuifui Moimoi, Gareth Hock and Micky Higham added to what was already the strongest squad in the Championship this season.
They’ve blitzed the league, flying to top spot, losing just one game all season against London Broncos and drawing once against Bradford. It’s been raining tries too - the top three scorers in the division are all Leigh players - and they scored 972 points in total. Could it get any better?
What’s gone right:
Ambition. Any Championship side that signs a famous New Zealand international, far from the end of his career, has to be doing something right. The thought of Fuifui Moimoi scattering Championship props was a mouth-watering one for all Centurion fans to saviour.
For all Gareth Hock’s flaws, there’s no doubting he’s still a superb operator when he’s got his game head on. As for persuading Micky Higham to swap Old Trafford-chasing Warrington for a side not guaranteed of a Super League place next season, only Paul Rowley can answer how that miracle came to pass.
What’s gone wrong:
How can you criticise a side that have slayed all before them, including two sides relegated from Super League last season? They’ve hammered nearly all comers, and they can be forgiven one defeat and one draw. Nobody’s perfect. They just have to make sure complacency doesn’t slip in, especially against the fellow Championship sides in the qualifiers.
Middle 8 chances:
Strongest of the Championship sides. We’ve spoken about the quality and depth of the squad, we’ve spoken about the exceptional league form and Leigh can take confidence from Challenge Cup wins over Salford and Wakefield already this season. Every player will draw on those memories going into the 8s and that confidence will be a real bonus for Paul Rowley.
With four home games, against Hull KR, Wakefield, Sheffield and Bradford, playing in their favour and strong support behind them, there’s an expectation the Centurions will be taking their place among Super League’s elite next season for the first time since 2005.
One to watch:
We’ve talked about the big names, but Ryan Brierley is another ace in the side. The half-back has long been linked with a move to Super League, and if Leigh don’t make it themselves, it’s hard to see him not making the move anyway.
Widely regarded as the best player outside the top competition, Brierley has the all-round game to catch any scout’s eye. Passing, kicking, try scoring - he’s got the lot. A hat-trick in the penultimate game of the regular season against Dewsbury is a stark reminder to rivals what he’s capable of.
