‘We had a few players…that were just absolutely poor’ – Leigh owner Derek Beaumont reveals why Super League dream went wrong

Last year, Leigh Centurions endured a difficult 2021 Super League season.

The Lancashire club won just two game and dropped down to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.

However, for Leigh owner Derek Beaumont, there were a number of reasons why the stay in Super League was cut so short – including the attitude of some players off the field.

“I actually thought I would be able to sign overseas players and we just couldn’t strengthen because of Covid,” Beaumont told the Rugby League Review podcast.

“Nobody wanted to loan players out and we had a few players – that I won’t name – that were just absolutely poor.

“I don’t mean as players I mean off the field and what went on at the club it was just ridiculous.

“I’ve never experienced anything as bad as that – and it was really tough then to see John dDuffy off but something had to change.

“Kurt (Haggerty) had a good go but we couldn’t attract a coach of any sort of stature, so we just accepted that’s what it was.”

Since then, Beaumont has helped bankroll the Centurions to second place in the Championship with just one loss in the league so far in 2022 to promotion rivals Featherstone Rovers.