Leigh Leopards beat St Helens with relative ease on Friday night but it’s a win that has come at a cost with one of their returning players now set to be sidelined again.
Playing at home, Leigh put on a performance for their fans as they won 48-10 in an eight-try demolition of St Helens that was started by Josh Charnley, who promptly signed a contract extension for his celebration.
A great night for Charnley but the same sadly could not be said for fellow outside back Keanan Brand who started after being recalled from his loan at Castleford Tigers – a loan move he’d made in order to get minutes back into his legs after a long lay-off through an ankle injury.
Unfortunately for Brand, he wouldn’t return for the second half after suffering an injury on the same ankle, with Adrian Lam confirming post-match: “Keanan has ended up hurting the same ankle that he’s been out with for a very long time, and unfortunately that change was made at half-time for Badrock to come back in, who’s been pretty good.”
Given that he missed the majority of the season with the initial injury, it’s likely that his season will now be done but the Leopards will be hoping that is not the case.
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Brand was not the only change to the Leigh side as both Jack Hughes and Jack Ashworth had missed out and Lam explained why post-match, with Ashworth now a concern for next week’s game against Wakefied Trinity.
Lam said: “Jack Hughes was ill all week and didn’t train all week. He could have played tonight, but I just made a call not to play him because I knew he would have been down in energy.
“Jack Ashworth has a stomach strain so he’s had to pull out and couldn’t be considered. That could be two to three weeks. He’s a small chance of next week.”
Such injury issues stacking up is reminiscent of the start of the season, at which point Leigh had up to ten senior players out at one point and Lam reflected on that after his side’s victory ensured their spot in the top six.
He said: “If you had said a third of the way through the season that you’re going to be in the six, locked in with a game to go, I would have taken that at that stage because of the difficult times we’ve been through, and it’s been an up and down year with all of that.
“I’m grateful, and everyone’s worked really hard to be here, albeit against a team that probably limped here with a few injuries themselves, but you’ve got to play what’s in front of you.
“I thought the boys were outstanding tonight.”
There is even a slim chance that Leigh can make the top four and secure a home play-off game though Lam admitted it is no longer in the Leopards’ hands following the surprise loss last week to Huddersfield Giants.
“I think at this stage, with that loss last week, it’s out of our hands what happens with a home final,” He admitted.
“We’ve got to rely on tomorrow or over the weekend. If Warrington can beat Wakefield, then that gives us a slight chance. It opens the door for us.
“We’re not going to hold on to that, we’ve just got to deal with what’s in front of us like we did tonight. I’m grateful we’re in. Fingers crossed we get a bit of luck go our way, and then you never know.”
