Rowley: Let's get the show on the road

Leigh Centurions host Hull KR in the first match of a brave new era for rugby league.

The top four Championship sides and bottom four Super League clubs will battle it out over the next two months in a mini-league, with four places in the top tier up for grabs.

The Sky television cameras will be at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday for the opening game of the competition, which pits Rowley’s Championship winning side against the Chris Chester’s Super League outfit.

And the Leigh head coach can’t wait.

"It will attract a lot of interest, it's a Sky game and people will want to look and see if it's going to be the challenge everyone is predicting for the Super League clubs - it's a huge challenge,” he said, acknowledging the fact Hull KR are one of the top tier’s form sides after making it to the Challenge Cup final with a win over Warrington Wolves last weekend.

“Rovers have had this amazing cup run and we'd like to congratulate them on reaching Wembley.

“We could have easily been playing them in the semi-final of the cup ourselves with a bit more luck.

"I think they've been everyone's darling team this year, everyone has enjoyed watching them.

"This is probably the most difficult challenge we could have, right from the off and that's what people want to see.

“It's no surprise that they (Sky TV and the RFL) wanted to chuck it right in there.

“Let's not mess about, let's get the show on the road and see how it's going to pan out.”

There will clearly be a lot of nervous excitement and tension inside Leigh Sport Village on Saturday ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

But for the two coaches it will be more of a friendly rivalry than a grudge match.

"Hull KR are coached by a very, very close friend of mine in Chris Chester,” said Rowley.

“We played together in the same side at Halifax for several years.

“Within that time I became not only his friend but a friend of his family and he's a friend of my family.

“I also speak to him regularly so it's going to be good to come up against Chris and do battle with him.”

Despite the bond, Rowley was eager to claim the role of underdogs, effectively heaping the pressure on the shoulders of his good friend and the Hull KR players.

All the joy of Hull KR’s recent cup exploits will be tempered if Leigh manage to continue their two-year unbeaten record at home and put East Yorkshire club’s Super League future into doubt.

"There are some big contributing factors,” Rowley added

“One – we'll be massive underdogs. Fact. You can't escape that.

“Two – we have a very inferior budget and spending power than Hull KR have, and they have strengthened like most teams in the last couple of months.

“But then throw in another curve ball – that we've not lost at home for two years and we're at home.

“Again we are confident and we'll play confident and see where it gets us."

The Leigh boss has reported no real injury concerns ahead of the game and expects to pick from a position of strength.

In other Centurions news, Paul Anderson's table topping Reserve side are once again at home to Featherstone Rovers at Leigh Miners Twist Lane ground tonight (Thursday, 7.45pm).