THE LEIGH CENTURIONS END OF YEAR REVIEW SUPPLEMENT FEATURING INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH PAUL ROWLEY(PAGE2
2014 IN REVIEW (PAGES 2-3)
NEW KIT OUT NOW AND FUIFUI MOI MOI SIGNS (PAGE 4)
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Leigh Reporter
Dec 2014
Leigh Reporter
Dec 2014
CENTURIONS CONQUER THE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROWLEY’S VIEW ON THE YEAR 2014 AND WHAT LIES AHEAD Just speaking to Paul Rowley you can see how proud he is of how his team have performed during the 2014 season and you can understand why. The team only lost 2 games in the entire season, which is a record for any Leigh team and also made them one of the best sporting teams in any sport in 2014. However Rowley says there is even more at stake this season. “The main aim for the lads is to get in that Super 8, we showed what a quality side we were last season and now we want to be playing against the big teams and on the big stage.” He also said that he was really proud of how Leigh played this season and said that the squad morale was high all season, even after the two defeats. “The boys always had belief in their abilities and themselves that they could win any game in front of them. They showed great battling qualities to come from behind to beat a very good Halifax team away, and that showed us that we could do something special.” He also commented on how proud he was to go to Headingley against Leeds and push them all the way. “I was disappointed because we lost the game but I was very proud of the lads as we gave it a really good go against the eventual winners. I genuinely believed that we could win that game because of the performances before the game, but it wasn’t to be and we moved on really well.” He also spoke of the disappointment of losing to Doncaster. “I still think we could have avoided defeat, we made some errors and were punished.” However he was full of pride that his team went on to do the league and grand final double. “I had a strong belief in the team that we could do well in the league this Leigh Centurions head year. I wanted us to win coach Paul Rowley the League Leaders Shield and that is what we did, and from then on I made sure we didn’t get complacent as we wanted to keep the form up going into the play offs and made sure we won the grand final. It was nice to do it at Headingley as well after the Leeds game earlier in the year, and it was also nice to perform well on TV as it showed many people just how good we have been this year.” I then asked him what ganes he is looking forward to next year and he instantly replied: “Bradford!” He explained why by saying “They were a Super League team last year, and we expect them to be right up at the top at the end of the year, but we will want to show them why we were the dominant team last year. London will also be a challenge because of the same reasons and they both have recruited well.” No matter what happens, Rowley has proved himself to be one of the fastest rising young coaches in the game during his first few years in the role, and he will be hoping to take his home town of Leigh all the way to the top.
By Ryan Taylor
If any game summed up the strength and determination of the Leigh Centurions in 2014 then it was the first away game of the season against a team expected to be up there with them come September. Leigh were 26-0 down away against Halifax at the Shay, which will have brought back memories of the 60-10 defeat suffered there the year before but this was a different Leigh to then. The Centurions racked in 36 unanswered points to claim one of the best comebacks recorded in Leigh’s history. The momentum from that game certainly helped the team as the centurions lost only 2 The Leigh Centurions team and staff celebrating winning the KIngstone’s Press Championship League Leaders Shield after a home victory over the Featherstone Rovers games all season and won every game at the Leigh Sports Village. Tom Spencer barged suffer one of their only league scoring a mamPaul Rowley would bring up some interLeigh Sports Village for Leigh is the prop One of the highlights through Zak Hardadefeats of the whole moth 43 tries in just have been the obvious esting ties and many when he trained with Richie Beaumont of Leigh season was year. 32 appearances which candidate to win the local derbies includTonga at the Rugby from St Helens. The the Challenge cup run ker to score a much deserved equaliser for After the game Jamie won him the Kingaward. ing current Super League World Cup, big prop was also on a which saw the Centuthe team and to esPeacock gave the stone’s Press young The Centurions also League champions St which proved to be dual contract last searions being broadcast tablish himself on the Leigh boys one of the player of the year for won the club of the Helens, Warrington one of the main decison with the Rochdale on Sky tv against the main stage as one of biggest compliments the 2014 season. year which cements Wolves and the big sions that he turned Hornets and it was Leeds Rhinos. In a of their year when Another name who how far the club has game against Wigan down Super League the scouting of head game that the Centuri- the best young props outside of the Super he said “These boys established himself gone since almost Warriors. The game clubs to sign for Leigh, of rugby Derek Beauons were meant to lose would not out of place this season was Margoing out of business a between Leigh and which is a real statemont which helped heavily the Centurions League. 4 minutes later Centurions fans in the Super League” tyn Ridyard who few years ago. Wigan will be conment of ambition. sign Richie after a came with 7 minutes witnessed a dream The Centurions after had his best career Next year the whole of tested in pre-season Another promising injury ravaged spell of causing one of the moment as Tom Arm- that seemed unstopin a Leigh shirt in Rugby League will be and has now been signing for Leigh is at St Helens after a biggest upsets in the strong went through pable as they tore an incredible effort. changed with the indubbed the “Battle of the signing of Ben successful spell at Hull history of the Chalthrough all the oppoRidyard was such a troduction of the new the Borough” and the Reynolds from the KR led to a move to lenge Cup at Heading- unmarked on the left wing to send the away sition before them as influence that the only structuring system. prospect of this beCastleford Tigers. The the Saints. ley against the team fans delirious and they broke many clubs that he missed in the The minimum aim for coming a even game 20 year old, who can There was a bit of conwho would go on to maybe even dreaming records in the process. Championship season the Centurions will in the same league is play either full-back troversy surrounding win the competition. of a visit to Wembley. Ryan Brierley was the was the only time in be to secure a place enough reason for the or half-back won the the now abandoned Ryan Hall opened the star man on many the league that the in the Super 8 stage Centurions to claim a joint Championship signing of Australian scoring for the Rhinos A questionable try from Leeds, which was occasions for Leigh as Centurions lost away with the main prize Super League place. League One young winger Curtis Johnson and most assumed eventually given by the his try scoring exploits at play-off surprises being a place in the The club has also player of the year from the North Sydthen that it would be video ref and Leeds have seen him linked Doncaster who scored Super League for the made some very imwhen he was signed ney Bears. a crushing victory for were back level. In the to many clubs in the two late tries to best top 3 teams with the pressive recruitments on a dual contract The deal was anthe full time giants 2nd half Leigh missed Super League such Leigh by 24-16 which 4th an 5th entering the in the transfer market register with the York nounced at the same of the Super League, glorious chances and as Leeds and Salford, helped their coach million pound game to none more especially City Knights, whilst event as Beaumont however the characeventually the home who have been long Paul Cooke become secure the last place in than the Paramatta making two Super and Reynolds with the ter and fight of the side powered through term admirers of the the Manager of the the premier competiEels legend Fui Fui League appearances pacy winger signing a Centurions showed to score 3 unanswered most talented young Year at the annual tion of rugby league. Moi Moi. The Tongan with the Castleford 2 year deal at LSV but throughout the game scores and end the scrum-halfs in the awards, which seemed The prospects of the was that impressed Tigers. the RFL rescinded the and just 6 minutes whole of rugby league, a surprise as most Super League will with the facilities at Another new signing transfer citing that a after the Ryan Hall try, dream of the Leigh boys and made them not just the Super people thought that
RYAN BRIERLEY
MARTYN RIDYARD “Discretionary Tier 2 GBE Application” had been turned down after an appeal meeting. The club has since announced that it will not be pursuing a replacement signing for Johnson and that they are happy with the squad size that they have. This is also be the first year since they were last in Super League that Leigh will be a full time side and this will surely be a boost to the Super League promotion push as it will enable the squad to be fully focused on their rugby and the challenges that lie ahead for this promising and developing side. The year 2014 has been a year which Leigh fans will look back on fondly many years from now with
a huge smile on their face. The team dominated nearly every game they played in and won every single game at home in the season. This was the most successful season ever on record in relation to the points scored, and they were very unlucky not to be in the Challenge Cup semi final which potentially could have seen “little old” Leigh take a trip down the arches to Wembley Stadium. Who knows what 2015 might hold, but if its good as 2014 then surely Leigh will be joining the big names in Super League and playing against some of the best players in the world and who knows maybe cause some upsets.
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Leigh Reporter
Dec 2014
NEW HOME AND AWAY KIT UNVEILED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
THE LEIGH CENTURIONS HOME AND AWAY KIT UNVEILED AT A SUPPORTERS CLUB MEETING, SPONSORED BY KUKRI
FUI FUI MOI MOI IN SHOCK MOVE TO THE LEIGH CENTURIONS “I love to smash.” with those choice of words Fui Fui Moi Moi made a instant connection to the Leigh Centurions fanbase that were eagerly awaiting his arrival at Leigh Sports Village. The Tongan international, who has spent his entire career playing for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL in Australia, hsd interest from Super League clubs such as Warrington, Wakefield and Salford but has decided to join Paul Rowley and Leigh in their case to join Super League’s elite in 2015. He has signed a 1 year contract with the option of a further
THE FIRST PICTURE OF FUIFUI MOIMOI IN A LEIGH SHIRT
year to try and prove his worth to the club and to show that he is still the same player that became a cult hero in Australia. Moi Moi is approaching the twilight years of his career but wants to make an impact
impact and show the English audiences that the hype is justified and that Leigh is not just a holiday but a serious chance to pove himself against the best players in England and fulfil a dram of playing in
the Super League. Moi Moi himself has spoken about the move to Leigh and what he hopes happens during his time at Leigh. On the move he said “I just want to play footy; train hard and
play hard, I love to get hit and challenge the other team to see who’s the strongest and most skilful in my position.” He also mentioned the other interest that was available in England and said why he chose Leigh to the club’s in house TV channel, Centurions TV: “There was interest, But, in the end, my team advised me that Leigh was my best option and I’m very happy to be going to Leigh. I was there at the World Cup and I trained and played at the Leigh Stadium. I met a few people at Leigh and, obviously, I met the owner who is a really nice guy” The head coach of
Leigh, Paul Rowley, spoke of his excitement about recruiting such an exciting name to Leigh. He said ““The signing of Fui is a strong indication of Leigh Centurions’ ability to attract world-class talent in the face of fierce competition from Super League clubs. Fui is a worldclass player who will not only bring profile to our club off the field but a huge presence and class on the field.” Moi Moi will join up with the squad after Christmas and will be available for the first pre season game against big rivals Wigan Warriors.