Hull KR 18 Leigh Centurions 25.

Leigh are winning the battle for Super League status but losing the fight to keep the lid on their fans’ expectations after a stunning win on rainy Humberside.

Coach Neil Jukes remained on message that ‘it’s not job done’ after his brilliant Centurions rallied from 12-0 down to stun their top flight hosts with a dazzling second half display.

But try telling that to supporters who have waited 11 long years to see their club rubbing shoulders with the game’s elite.

Victory over Huddersfield at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday will get this promotion party started; one of three remaining Middle 8’s games for Jukes’ unbeaten squad.

Leigh’s fourth successive victory leaves them four points clear of fourth placed Hull KR and six ahead of London Broncos, currently occupying the final spot in the million pounds’ game.

“It's nowhere near job done and the lads know that,” said cautious Jukes. “That was my first clear message to them.

“Mathematically 10 points doesn't even get you there. We have got to keep working hard.

“One win might get us there; two wins will definitely get us there.

“But this is a massive game to win. To come to a place like Hull KR which historically is a real tough place to come, plus to do it on the back of a poor start, it was an incredible effort from everyone.

“But the guys know there is still a fair way of this journey to go and we've got another big game this week.

“I thought Cory Paterson had his best game for the club, Reni Maitua got 50-60 minutes and Andrew Dixon shared it. But effort wise you couldn’t knock any of them and the will to win the games cannot be questioned.

“Attitude gets you through these type of games and we had the best of attitudes.

“We worked it well with the subs and when we started getting at least half the possession with the penalties, we looked like a Super League team.”

Describing his players as “like rabbits in headlights” Jukes saw Leigh placed on a team warning after three minutes and then concede two tries in 11 minutes from Ken Sio and Josh Mantellato.

And they were 12-0 down before Sam Hopkins got the visitors back into the game after 25 minutes.

After half time the momentum swung with Andrew Dixon, Matty Dawson and Josh Drinkwater crossing in the space of five minutes.

Martyn Ridyard kicked two goals and Leigh led 22-12. It wouldn’t be the Centurions in these Middle 8s without late drama.

So, it was again when Matty Marsh touched down and Mantellato goaled to make it 22-18 with 14 minutes remaining.

However, the remaining points only came from the boot of Ridyard with a penalty and drop goal to seal victory.

Stats:

Hull KR: Cockayne, Mantellato, Sio, Minns, Thornley, Mantellato; Marsh, Blair; Tilse, Lunt, Allgood, Greenwood, Clarkson, Walker; substitutes: Mulhern, Larroyer, Donaldson, Lawler.

Tries: Sio (5), Mantellato (11), Marsh (66).

Goals: Mantellato (3).

Leigh: McNally; Higson, Worthington, Brown, Dawson; Ridyard, Drinkwater; Hock, Higham, Weston, Maitua, Tickle, Paterson; substitutes: Hood, Hansen, Dixon, Hopkins.

Tries: Hopkins (15), Dixon (47), Dawson (50), Drinkwater (52);

Goals: Ridyard 4.

Drop goal: Ridyard (79).

Referee: Robert Hicks.

Attendance: 7363.

Remaining fixtures.

Leeds 8pts, v Batley H, Huddersfield A, Leigh H.

Leigh 8pts, v Huddersfield H, Batley A, Leeds A.

Huddersfield 6pts, Leigh A, Leeds H, HKR A.

Hull KR 4pts, London A, Featherstone A, Huddersfied H.

Pictures: Paul McCarthy Photography.