T'Other Side: Leigh Centurions

 

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: Adrian Lam

Adrian Lam was head coach of Wigan Warriors from 2019 to 2021. Originally appointed on an interim basis while they were awaiting Sean Edwards, when Edwards decided not to go to Wigan he was appointed on a permanent basis. From 2007 to 2009 he was the head coach of the Papua New Guinea international team and he is currently the Australian assistant coach.

As a player he was a high-quality scrumhalf for Sydney Roosters and Wigan Warriors. He played fourteen times for Queensland in State of Origin matches and fifteen times for Papua New Guinea.

 

Co-Captains: Joe Mellor and Adam Sidlow

Adrian Lam has appointed Joe Mellor and Adam Sidlow as co-captains of Leigh Centurions for 2022.

Joe Mellor is a half back who started his career with two years at Wigan in 2011 and 2012. During that time, he also played for Harlequins and Widnes on loan. In 2013 he joined Widnes and then moved to Toronto Wolfpack in 2019 before signing for Leigh in 2021.

Prop Forward, Adam Sidlow, made his début for Widnes in 2006. In 2007 he had a loan spell with Workington. He joined Salford in 2008 and then Bradford in 2013. He was with Toronto Wolfpack throughout their time in the UK competition from 2017 to 2020 and moved, together with Joe Mellor, to Leigh in 2021.

 

Star Man: John Asiata

John Asiata is an Australian prop, second row or loose forward who played for North Queensland Cowboys from 2014 to 2020 and for Brisbane Broncos in 2021. In 20`15b he was in the North Queensland team that beat Brisbane in the Australian Grand Final.

Being of mixed heritage he has played internationally for both Samoa and Tonga.

 

 

New Signings in 2021

There has been a huge turnover in the Leigh squad from the side that were in Super League last year with only six of that side still there this year.

 

Loan signings

 

Leigh have signed a dual registration agreement with St. Helens for 2022 but they have also taken Tom Nisbet (winger) and Aaron Smith (hooker) on loan from Saints.

 

 

The Fev connection

Although there have been 29 players in the Summer Era who have played for both Fev and Leigh, there are hardly any between 1921 and 1996. We have found only two.

Geoff Clarkson (second row) was a real wanderer playing for ten different clubs and being transferred twelve times and all that after starting as a rugby union player with Sandal and appearing for Yorkshire before joining Wakefield Trinity. He finished his career with 13 games at Fev in the 1983-84 season and played for Leigh in 1970-71 and 1981-83.

Frank Moore (prop) played 61 games for Fev from 1958 to 1960. He started his career with Wakefield Trinity. He moved from Wakefield to Leigh and then played for three more clubs before coming to Rovers. He finished his playing days where he had begun back at Wakefield.