YORK KNIGHTS head coach Mark Applegarth has backed Leigh Leopards to reach the Super League Grand Final.
Leigh currently sit sixth ahead of the visit of York on Friday night, having turned around a slow start to the season to win eight of their last ten matches.
They have reached the play-off semi-final in each of the last two seasons – losing both to ‘Battle of the Borough’ rivals Wigan Warriors – but Applegarth believes they can go one better this time around.
“They’re a very good team, and I think they’ll be right up there as Grand Final contenders,” the Knights boss admitted.
“I don’t think anyone would bat an eyelid if they were in the Grand Final and competing for the ultimate prize.
“I said at the start of the year when we played them that they’d be right up there once they got a few bodies back.
“They’ve got some great strike throughout their team, and they’re very well coached.”
Leigh, who triumphed 18-6 in the reverse fixture at York in April, head into the match off the back of a 20-8 defeat to Wigan.
Despite having led 8-0, a series of errors ultimately proved their undoing as they fell to a first loss since mid-June.
“I thought they weren’t far off last week at all,” explained Applegarth.
“There were a few moments in that game that ultimately cost them against Wigan, but if you take them out of it, I thought they were going toe to toe there.
“We know we’re going to have to be at our best, and we’re looking forward to locking horns.
“They’re a really high quality team, and it’s a good test for us.”