Salford v Leigh preview
Salford are a much better team than the one which lost to Leigh in the Challenge Cup earlier this season, says Centurions coach Paul Rowley
Leigh suffered a disappointing defeat against Hull KR last Saturday while Salford enjoyed a win over Wakefield.
“I watched Salford v Wakefield on Sunday and I was impressed with Salford,” said Rowley. “They are a much-improved team compared to the one we beat in the Challenge Cup.
“They look a lot more settled and the players seem to suit the system. Ian Watson has done a great job in trying circumstances and we will need to be at our best.”
Salford Acting Head Coach, Ian Watson says “We are expecting a really tough game,” predicts Ian, “just as we got in the cup tie earlier in the season. They have lots of experience, show consistency week in week out, and can pose threats to any team.”
It has been commented that teams coming to the Qualifiers from the top of the Championship are possibly better placed to do well than those struggling at the foot of Super League. Ian’s belief is that that is because of their having an extra home game, which is always an advantage in any encounter.
“We are the team at home on Sunday, so it should be us posing all the threats rather than them,” he counters.
Leigh Centurions have named their 19-man squad ahead of Sunday's Supers 8s
This will be the Centurions' first competitive match at the AJ Bell Stadium though they did have the honour of providing Salford's opposition for the opening match at the stadium in January 2012.
Gregg McNally and Ryan Brierley were among the try-scorers that day in Leigh's 36-12 victory.
Salford: Rangi Chase, Michael Dobson, Niall Evalds, Carl Forster, George Griffin, Josh Griffin, Harrison Hansen, Ben Jones-Bishop, Greg Johnson, Olsi Krasniqi, Tommy Lee, Reni Maitua, Adrian Morley, Cory Paterson, Junior Sa’u, Scott Taylor, Iain Thornley, Logan Tomkins, Adam Walne
Leigh: Gregg McNally, Adam Higson, Tom Armstrong, Liam Kay, Martyn Ridyard, Ryan Brierley, Fuifui Moimoi, Bob Beswick, Oliver Wilkes, Tommy Goulden, Sam Barlow, Tom Spencer, Kurt Haggerty, Jamie Acton, Andrew Dixon, Martin Aspinwall, Jake Emmitt, Micky Higham, Mathias Pala.
