Leigh excited, not daunted, by tough opening to Super League 2017

This story first appeared in Monday’s League Express. To get exclusive content like this first every week, make sure you’re notified as soon as the paper hits online newsstands on Sunday nights by clicking here.

Neil Jukes says reality is setting in for him and his newly-promoted Leigh Centurions. Jukes’ men face a daunting start to life back in Super League, with their opening fives fixtures coming against Castleford, Leeds, St Helens, Wigan and Warrington.

Leigh will host the Wolves and Saints, while visiting the Tigers, Rhinos and Warriors in what will prove a testing five weeks in the sport’s top flight.

“We are very much looking forward to the challenges ahead,” said the Centurions coach, who took over the reins in February.

“We have to shake off our achievements of this year and move on. There is no likeness between Super League and the Championship. The Championship is a solid competition, but you can get a result without playing at your best.

“I cannot see that being the case when we go up against the likes of Leeds, Castleford, Wigan, Warrington and Saints. We have a very tough opening set of fixtures and things have suddenly got real for us.

“For us it will now be about peaking at the right time and that is round one. We can’t be saving ourselves for a Qualifiers campaign, as we attempted to do this year.

“It will be a case of sink or swim. For a period we may sink a little, though we will swim eventually. It is about us getting used to playing at that level every week.

“Though we will go into the new season confident. For the majority of players in our squad, Super League is their bread and butter. It is certainly the case for the players we are bringing in.”

On the subject of recruitment, with the signing of Ryan Hampshire still to be formally confirmed by the club, Jukes claims Leigh are zoning in on their latest addition.

A “Super League centre” is on the Centurions’ radar and Lancashire outfit are actively seeking to bring in a front-row forward after missing out on St Helens newcomer Adam Walker.

League Express understands Jukes also made a move for Salford-bound Lee Mossop, who is believed to have turned down an approach from Wakefield in order to become a Red Devil for 2017.

This story first appeared in Monday’s League Express. To get exclusive content like this first every week, make sure you’re notified as soon as the paper hits online newsstands on Sunday nights by clicking here.