Ian Millward wants more supporters to get behind Leigh Centurions cause (From Leigh Journal)

Ian Millward wants more supporters to get behind Leigh Centurions cause

1:50pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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LEIGH Centurions host Whitehaven this weekend and boss Ian Millward has issued a rallying call to the town to back his charges after they won on the road in a league game for the first time since May.

“We want to see a little bit more support from the fans,” he said.

“At the Barrow game they were very vocal. I’d like to see a little bit more vocal encouragement during the game. I think the players will really respond.

“Lift the decibel levels and let’s start getting more people to games. Everyone is putting a lot of time and effort in.

“There are certain criterias for Super League regarding attendances and revenues - it all has a massive effect.

“We are ticking every box that every fan would want us to tick at the moment. We are winning games, playing better, defending better.

“We are improving in attack all the time and even though I was disappointed by some of our play against Keighley, we still scored 30 points.

“In fact, everything we do this season is ticking boxes. We are trying to get back-to-back wins, get some wins away. We are trying to achieve something every game.”

Tim Hartley and Dave McConnell will be considered for Sunday’s game with Whitehaven, kick off 3pm, after missing out last week.

“It'll be up to how people train and play. That will determine the outcome of selection,” said Millward.

“It’s a massive game for us. We need not only to win it, we want to protect our home record and we want to be undefeated after three games.”

Against Keighley, Leigh used Robbie Paul at hooker for the last 20 minutes but that is not expected to be his starting role on Sunday.

“It was more a precautionary thing for if there is a time when we run with one hooker and there is an injury,” said Millward.

“I wanted to see how we’d handle it. It’s scenario stuff so that if something happens we’ve gone through that before.

“People are still getting used to their roles but at least we are not accepting a win is good enough. We keep striving for a better performance. That will make us better down the track.”

Centurions full back Ian Mort has joined Whitehaven on loan but is likely to be ineligable for this weekend’s visit.

Millward said: “Competition for places in the first-team squad is really high at the moment and the next reserve game is a month away.

“That means that Ian won’t be getting the game time he needs so a spell at Whitehaven will help in his development for when further opportunities arise.”

The 21-year-old played in Centurions’ opening win over Oldham.

Mort immediately slotted into his new surroundings with the final try of Haven’s 34-20 defeat of Toulouse on Saturday.