PAUL Rowley believes his high profile, close season recruits, even with their Super League pedigree, have had their eyes opened by Leigh’s cavalier style.

All Rowley’s newcomers will be blooded in Sunday’s ‘Battle of the Borough clash against Wigan at Leigh Sports Village with the exception of suspended former Warriors favourite, Harrison Hansen.

Injured quartet: Ryan Brierley, Jake Emmitt, Sam Barlow and Mathias Pala also miss out while Wigan boss Shaun Wane has named a squad containing seven of last season’s Grand Final squad.

“We’ve got a lot of new additions and it takes time with them,” says Rowley of Hansen, Rangi Chase, Cory Paterson, Dayne Weston, Willie Tonga and Reni Maitua.

“For them it’s a totally different structure.

“They have all joined this club because they love the structure.

“But it’s been a case of adapting to it and repetition because there is so many things in the locker here at Leigh in terms of players and structures.

“We have added to that, so for any new player coming in, it’s quite eye-opening.

“They have got to be very receptive to our ideas because we play a game that is very different to the majority of other teams. But it’s been good, we’ve worked very hard.”

Rowley described Centurions’ recent training camp in Tenerife as “fun” but no holiday.

“It was a very busy schedule and there were some tired boys at the end of the days,” he said. “We did quite a lot of fitness but as always our objective was the ball work.”

n Players and staff will attend Friday’s funeral of club legend Tommy Sale MBE at Leigh Parish Church.

For supporters not wishing to attend the funeral but still pay their respects the funeral procession will drive onto Sale Way and past the front of the LSV Stadium shortly after 11.30am.

Tommy’s daughter, Jean and son Ronnie, have made the following statement on behalf of the family.

“We have been overwhelmed by the messages of support and tributes to dad in such a short period of time and we are truly grateful,” said Tommy’s daughter, Jean and son Ronnie.

“This has been of great comfort to all his family in our time of loss.

Rowley has paid his own tribute to ‘Mr Leigh’ who died on January 3, aged 97.

“We were all very close to Tommy who was a regular at Leigh long before any of us.

“Originally I had planned Friday as a day off, but the boys were equally supportive and wanted to be at his funeral.

“Everyone wanted to go to fully support the Sale family and pay our respects. He always supported me, not just as a player or coach but as a person.

“Like my dad, I had a very good relationship with him.

“It all stems from my dad and down from him to me.

“We always had good banter and he will be sadly missed.”

A minute’s applause will be held in Sale’s memory before Sunday’s 3pm kick-off.