Leigh Centurions can't afford Toulouse game (From Leigh Journal)

Leigh Centurions can't afford Toulouse game

4:26pm Thursday 12th August 2010 in

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SOMETHING will have to give when Toulouse Olympique visit Leigh Centurions on Saturday, kick off 6pm.

Both teams have a lot to play for at the business end of the Championship season.

“Toulouse have to win to make the play-offs,” said Leigh head coach Ian Millward “We’ve got to win to get the top four spot. The stakes are pretty high for both teams.”

Millward is wary of the French team’s threat to his own side’s ambitions.

“They are a team that have beaten Featherstone Rovers (table toppers) away this year,” he said.

“They are very powerful, very strong, led by an Australian half back, although they are predominantly French.

“We played really well against them last time so that sends a warning straight away that we need to play well on Saturday night. We need to win and we need to get the job done.

“I’m going to make a couple of changes just to have a look at a couple of things and also because of disappointments in the last game (defeat to Dewsbury).

“We weren’t on top of things in the last game. The positive thing is if someone had said at the start of the year you could finish in the top four, we would have grabbed it.”

Second Row Paul Smith is definitely going to miss the clash.

“He’s done his ankle,” Millward said, while Mick Nanyn faces a fitness test before the Leigh boss makes his final team selection.

Season ticket holders can take along a friend for a fiver on Saturday. Regular ticket prices are £14 per adult and £7 per concession (standing), £16 and £8 (seating).

Meanwhile, Centurions held their awards night at the Park Inn on Saturday.

The big winners were Tommy Goulden (Player of the Year), John Duffy (Players’ Player of the Year), MacGraff Leuluai (Young Player of the Year) and Anthony Nicholson (Reserve Player of the Year).

“Tommy Goulden was up against Chris Hill, Martyn Ridyard, Jimmy Taylor and Matty Blythe,” Millward revealed.

“We felt he’d been pretty consistent all year.

“He’d come from a division below and he’s improved as the year has gone on too. We thought he was a reliable team member.

“Obviously the coaches don’t pick Player’s Player but John Duffy won it and it’s a pretty high priviledge to get that because it’s voted for by your peers. MacGraff is under 21 years of age, he’s played nearly every first grade game this term. Last year he wasn’t a regular, so he’s become a regular first grader and you can see his game improving.

“He’s getting stronger and he’s quite dedicated to his game which is good. I think he’s purely a second rower only. He’s only filled in in the centres because of injuries.

“Anthony has been a bundle of enthusiasm. He’s progressing, has played two first-team games with me and next year he’ll get more opportunities. We are very pleased with the way he’s advancing and developing."

* The Reserves travel to Oldham on Saturday hoping to make amends for a 16-20 loss a few weeks ago.

* Centurions have received confirmation that their game against Sheffield, originally scheduled for 22nd August, has been brought forward to Thursday 19th August for coverage on Sky Sports.