Featherstone Rovers show Super League credentials with Leigh win – talking points

Featherstone Rovers won the battle of the Championship’s big two in Monday night Rugby League as they beat Leigh Centurions 28-6 in an entertaining affair.

Joey Leilua made his eagerly-anticipated debut for Featherstone following his move from the NRL. Matty Wildie and Ben Hellewell, who both played for Leigh in Super League last season, faced their former clubs for the first time since their switch to the Rovers.

Former NRL Grand Final winner John Asiata made his second appearance for Leigh since his move from Brisbane Broncos. Nene Macdonald, who bagged a hat-trick on his debut against Whitehaven last week, lined up against Leilua in the centres.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Leilua took on the Leigh defence and assisted Luke Briscoe with a tremendous flick pass.

Brian McDermott’s side extended their lead midway through the first half after Hall made a break and gave it inside to the supporting Morgan Smith who darted over. Hall nailed his 500th career goal.

A poor run of discipline saw the Centurions have two men sin-binned on the half hour mark. James McDonnell was yellow-carded for a tip tackle whilst Ben Reynolds was binned for a late hit.

Featherstone made the most of having two extra men on the field as Dane Chisholm found Hall with a chip to score. Rovers were 16-0 to the good at half-time.

HT: Featherstone 16-0 Leigh

The home side were came out of the half-time interval in good form and stretched their lead further thanks to John Davies. Hall converted to edge McDermott’s side into a 22-6 lead.

Papua New Guinea international Nene Macdonald pulled one back for Leigh in the 69th minute, which Reynolds converted.

It was Featherstone who had the last say though as Brandon Pickersgill danced his way over. Hall’s conversion sealed an emphatic 28-6 victory for Rovers.

FT: Featherstone 28-6 Leigh

Featherstone: Pickersgill; Briscoe, Leilua, Hellewell, Hall; Smith, Chisholm; Cooper, Wildie, Lockwood, Moors, Hardcastle, Bussey. Subs: Jones, Davies, Field, Cuthbertson.

Tries: Briscoe, Smith, Hall, Davies, Pickersgill Goals: Hall 4

Leigh: Aekins; Dixon, Brand, Macdonald, Nisbet; Reynolds, Mellor; Green, Smith, Amone, Wardle, Stone, Asiata. Subs: Hingano, Ioane, McDonnell, Jones.

Tries: Macdonald Goals: Reynolds 1

Three talking points

Featherstone Rovers lay down a marker

There was an attendance of 4,562 to watch the Championship’s big two go head-to-head at Post Office Road, and you can see why they have been so bold about their Super League ambitions.

Rovers have recruited impressively over the off-season, with the likes of Leilua, Jesse Sene-Lefao and Adam Cuthbertson adding to the strong group they’ve already got. They laid down a marker with a strong win over Leigh, for sure.

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Joey Leilua debut and injury

Featherstone’s signing of Samoa powerhouse Leilua was one of the best pieces of business by any English club this off-season. He’s been voted the best centre in the NRL on two occasions.

He made an impact within one of his first touches. He showed some fine footwork to get the better of the Leigh defence and get a nice pass away to try scorer Briscoe.

Leilua’s debut was cut short though with a slight hamstring injury, which is thought not to be too serious.

Monday night Rugby League shines

There is such a positive vibe around Championship rugby league being shown on a Monday night right now – and it’s refreshing to see.

There were more than 4,000 in person at Post Office Road, which is great for a Monday night game. But it is also great to have the must-watch clash shown live on Premier Sports. Their coverage has been excellent so far and long may it continue.

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