Super League official confirmed as referee for Championship Grand Final between Leigh Centurions & Batley Bulldogs

In one of the most intriguing conclusions to a Championship season ever we see Leigh Centurions and Batley Bulldogs do battle for a place in Super League.

All season, the Championship has been geared towards an expected conclusion as big spenders Leigh and Featherstone seemed set for a collision course in the Million Pound Game with Super League at stake.

This war began through words in pre-season and then in the transfer market as they tussled over signings. It looked to be an even battle at first until Leigh started to pull away after they beat the Rovers in the 1895 Cup Final.

However, there was always a school of thought that believed Fev, under big game specialist Brian McDermott who is still Super League’s most successful coach, could stun the Centurions on the big stage.

That school of thought of course died when Batley did the stunning themselves to book a place in the final away at the Centurions’ Leigh Sports Village to determine who will join Super League in 2023.

Batley are massive underdogs but their win over Fev shows that you should never say never. But the star-studded Centurions have been perceived as a Super League side in waiting.

Already a unique cast for the event with two interesting tales to be told, the referee that will join them has also been confirmed.

Super League official Chris Kendall will officiate the game having refereed in Super League Grand Finals previously such as in 2019.

Curiously Kendall was in charge the last time Leigh lost doing so against Hull KR in the Challenge Cup. Perhaps a bad omen for the Centurions then?

Another ex-Grand Final ref James Child is the reserve referee whilst Tom Grant is set to be the video referee.

Here’s the officials in full:

Referee – Chris Kendall

Touch Judges – Dean Bowmer and Neil Horton

Reserve Referee- James Child

Video Referee- Tom Grant

Reserve Touch Judge – Denton Arnold

Match Commissioner- Gerry Kershaw

Time Keeper – Paul Crashley

Comms – Dave Stones/ Wayne Pickup