Championship preview: Leigh v North Wales

Leigh Centurions coach Paul Rowley insists North Wales Crusaders will pose a major threat in Sunday’s Kingstone Press Championship clash, despite Leigh’s strong start to the season.

Rowley said: “It’s a new division for the club, but it’s nothing new to their players. Plenty of their players have played at this level or higher, and they are a forward-thinking club that has invested heavily in recruitment.

“This will be our sternest test to date – they are a nailed on a play-off side, for sure.”

“I am fully aware Clive Griffiths will talk down their chances because he’s a wily old campaigner, but I’m a bit too wise to fall for that nonsense and so are my players.”

Crusaders coach Griffiths says seven players – Michael Platt, Andy Moulsdale, Dan Birkett, David Mills, Toby Adamson, Gary Middlehurst and Jono Smith – are all doubtful.

Griffiths said: “It’s going to be a hard day at the office for us, but we’ll go there, absorb it and learn from it.

“But having said that, if they take their eye off the ball then we’ll punish them, and they know that. We are very capable of scoring tries. They are overwhelming favourites, but you never know.”