Featherstone Rovers 28-6 Leigh Centurions: Player ratings and three major talking points

Featherstone Rovers underlined their title credentials with an emphatic 28-6 victory over Leigh Centurions in what was already being dubbed as the ‘top two battle.’

Rovers were in the driving seat from the first minute, displaying their enthusiasm and coolness with and without the ball, which could not be said of their opponents who lost two men to the sinbin within minutes of each other midway through the first-half.

But, just how did the two sides rate and what were the three major talking points?

1. Brian McDermott adapts so well

Last week’s victory over York City Knights suggested that Featherstone Rovers were a free-flowing, fancy outfit. Though trying to throw the ball around against Leigh Centurions tonight, the West Yorkshire side displayed a much more conservative and tough performance to overcame their Lancashire rivals. It’s further proof that legendary coach Brian McDermott knows what it takes to win different matches in different conditions.

2. Leigh will still be up there

Before the game, Leigh Centurions owner Derek Beaumont stated that it was only round two and that his side were under no pressure to perform unlike Rovers. With 21 players and 16 of them new, it was always going to take a long time to gel so Leigh fans shouldn’t be disheartened. The fast track will suit the Centurions with the likes of Caleb Aekins and Nene MacDonald looking stunted to say the least tonight.

3. Leigh need to improve their discipline

The sinbin continued to haunt Leigh with both Ben Reynolds and James McDonnell being handed yellow cards for poor tackles, but the visitors continued to be penalised throughout the night for ill-discipline. New head coach Adrian Lam will certainly be drilling that into them for the rest of the season.

Player ratings

Featherstone Rovers
Brandon Pickersgill – 9
Luke Briscoe – 9
Joey Leilua – 7
Ben Hellewell – 7
Craig Hall – 6
Morgan Smith – 7
Dane Chisholm – 8
Luke Cooper – 7
Matty Wildie – 7
James Lockwood – 8
Junior Moors – 9
Josh Hardcastle – 7
Jack Bussey – 9
Interchange
Connor Jones – 6
John Davies – 8
Calum Field – 7
Adam Cuthbertson – 6

Leigh Centurions
Caleb Aekins – 5
Kieran Dixon – 6
Keanan Brand – 6
Nene MacDonald – 8
Tom Nisbet – 5
Ben Reynolds – 6
Joe Mellor – 8
Chris Green – 5
Aaron Smith – 6
Tom Amone – 6
Sam Stone – 6
John Asiata – 8
Interchange
Ata Hingano – 7
Mark Ioane – 7
James McDonnell – 6
Jacob Jones – 6