Featherstone out to defend title

Featherstone are determined to retain their Championship title as their play-off campaign begins against Leigh tonight.

The top two meet at the Bigfellas Stadium, with the winner earning a place in the Championship Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium later this month.

Rovers, who have now won three successive league leaders’ shields, will be looking for a repeat of this year’s Northern Rail Cup semi-final, when they comfortably beat Paul Rowley’s Centurions 54-16.

Head Coach Daryl Powell said: “We are the defending champions and we want to retain the title, but we will have to play well.

“All the teams that in the play-offs are tough sides to play against and anyone can win it. We are going to need to be right on top of our game.”

Leigh travel without Rob Parker and Sam Hopkins as coach Paul Rowley insists his side’s previous results against Featherstone will count for nothing.

Rowley said: “We’ve only put in a good account of ourselves once against Featherstone this year, and that was at our place.

“But we’ve improved with every month of the season, we feel fresh and we’re in great form. We’ve every reason to feel confident.

“It’s a difficult task but not a daunting task, and it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

The game, which kicks off at 7.30pm, will be televised live on Premier Sports.