T’Other Side: Leigh Centurions

T’Other Side: Leigh Centurions

Head Coach: Neil Jukes

Neil Jukes took over as head coach at Leigh following the shock resignation of Paul Rowley just 10 days before the beginning of last season and promptly led Leigh into Super League by finishing top of the Championship and into a remarkable second place in the Qualifiers. He had previously been assistant coach to Paul Rowley. He played for Leigh from 1994 to 1997, principally at loose forward and finished his career in 1998 with Rochdale Hornets.

Captain: Mickey Higham

Mickey Higham returned to Leigh, his hometown club, in mid-2015. He left Super League Warrington in order to help try and get Leigh into Super League. He is principally a hooker but through his career has occasionally played at halfback or loose forward. He began with Leigh in 1999, moving to Saint Helens in 2001. In 2006 he was signed by Wigan and then he moved to Warrington in 2009. This season he has clocked up his 500th career appearance, a total which includes representative matches for England A, Great Britain and England.

At the Back

Mitch Brown is an Australian who was signed from Cronulla Sharks just before the transfer deadline in 2016 in order to boost their chances in the Qualifiers. He mainly plays at centre but has also played at fullback and occasionally on the wing, too. Son of Lee Crooks, Ben Crooks is also a centre and he is currently at Leigh on a season long loan from Castleford Tigers. He started his career at Hull FC and whilst there played for England Academy. He had a loan spell at Doncaster in 2014 and then spent the 2015 season in Australia with Parramatta Eels playing in their reserve grade side Wentworthville Magpies. He returned in 2016 signing for Castleford. Playing mostly on the wing, with occasional appearances at centre, is Matty Dawson who is Leigh’s top try scorer this year with 12. He also joined Leigh on transfer deadline last year having been at Saint Helens. He started his career with Huddersfield Giants and has had loan spells with Doncaster and Rochdale.

In the Halves

Regular scrumhalf this season has been Australian Josh Drinkwater. He first came to England in 2014 when London Broncos signed him from Saint George Illawarra Dragons. He only stayed for one season returning home to play for Wests Tigers. Midway through last season Leigh brought him back to England. Whilst struggling in Super League Leigh signed Daniel Mortimer in late June to partner Josh Drinkwater in the halves. Mortimer is also an Australian and was signed from Cronulla Sharks. He had previously made NRL appearances for Parramatta Eels, Sydney Roosters and Gold Coast Titans.

In the Pack

Lachlan Burr is an Australian prop forward. Bradford signed him this year from Gold Coast Titans but he joined Leigh when Bradford went into administration. More often than not he comes on from the bench and can play at loose forward as well as prop. In 2010 he played for the Australian Schoolboys team. Highly fiery and very combative: apt words to describe Leigh’s French hooker, Eloi Pelissier, who they signed this year from Catalans Dragons. He played 157 times for the Dragons and has played for France 13 times. He usually starts on the bench with Liam Hood starting in the hooker position. Another forward who often starts on the bench but brings huge experience to the team is prop or second row Danny Tickle. He began his career back in 2000 with Halifax and has subsequently played for Wigan, Hull FC, Widnes and Castleford. He has had representative recognition with Lancashire, England and the Northern Union. He recently scored his 100th career try and has also kicked over 1,000 goals.

The Fev Connection

There are no members of the Leigh squad that have ever played for Featherstone and the only member of the Fev squad who has played for Leigh is Richard Moore who was there in 2005 and 2006.