NEIL Jukes isn’t ready to start dreaming about becoming a Super League coach just yet.

And with a testing trip to Featherstone Rovers on Sunday, Jukes has ever reason to remain cautious.

But two wins from two Middle 8s fixtures, including this 10-try thriller against top flight neighbours, Salford, then Leigh’s lofty ambitions could eventually be realised.

The Centurions started and finished superbly while defending for their lives when the Red Devils threw everything at them in the second half.

“We are in a good place but it’s nowhere job done yet,” said Jukes after Adam Higson and Matty Dawson crossed late on to ensure Salford’s even later rally didn’t wreck the celebrations.

“We have thrown ourselves in the mix but we have got some real tough games ahead. We are not counting our chickens just yet.

“If we don’t go to Featherstone and get two points then in reality we have just got four points from two Championship games.

“The motto is ‘no regrets’ and it puts us in a good place but we know we have got to back it up now at Featherstone. We were fortunate to get over the line against them at home.”

Salford boss Ian Watson had no complaints as Leigh reversed last season’s 46-18 Middle 8’s defeat. But with four tries disallowed by video referee, James Child, and no big screen replays available, he grumbled about the lack of technology.

“Every televised Super League game is supposed to have a big screen and this was a Super 8’s qualifier,” he said.

“It’s a bad thing there wasn’t one so I can’t tell you whether they should have been tries or not.”

Salford had started well and it needed great tackles from Higson and Dawson to deny Mason Caton-Brown and Robert Lui.

Caton-Brown forced Higson in touch at the other end as the pace showed no sign of relenting and Mitch Brown’s grabbed Caton-Brown’s legs to deny the winger a long range effort.

In between, Leigh hit the front with ‘made in Salford’ touch downs. Red Devils’ old boys, Reni Maitua and Cory Paterson, crossed in the first 12 minutes, both tries goaled by Martyn Ridyard.

Salford’s response was a beauty as ex London Bronco, Caton-Brown, swerved and sprinted clear on a 60 metres run for his eighth try in four games.

However, Leigh finished the first half 20-10 in front as Gregg McNally and Niall Evalds touched down for their respective sides; Ridyard landing a total of four goals in the opening period.

Salford improved in the second half and Lui eventually eventually scored a try the officials were happy with. Murdoch-Masila, Caton-Brown, Junior Sa’u and Josh Griffin all fell foul of Mr Child’s deliberations.

Sensing it was going to be their day, Leigh responded superbly and scored their fourth and fifth tries through man of the match Higson and ex Saint, Dawson.

And it was just as well. In a near carbon copy repeat of the previous week’s dramatic collapse against Broncos, Salford hit Leigh through Murdoch-Masila and Caton-Brown to leave them only another converted score from a draw when the hooter sounded.

Match stats: Leigh: McNally; Higson, Brown, Tonga, Dawson; Ridyard, Drinkwater; Hopkins, Higham, Weston, Maitua, Paterson, Hock; Substitutes: Hood, Tickle, Acton, Hansen.

Tries: Maitua (7), Paterson (12), McNally (22), Higson (74), Dawson (76).

Goals: Ridyard (6).

Salford: O’Brien; Evalds, Sa’u, J Griffin, Caton-Brown; Lui, Dobson; Kopczak, Tomkins, G Griffin, Murdoch-Masila, Mateo, Flanagan; substitutes: Hauraki, Burgess, Krasniqi, Kenny.

Tries: Caton-Brown (15, 80), Evalds (31), Lui (55), Murdoch-Masila (77).

Goals: O’Brien (3).

Referee: Chris Campbell.

Attendance: 4547.