Big decisions ahead (From Leigh Journal)

Big decisions ahead

2:04pm Thursday 29th September 2011 in Centurions By David Parkinson

LEIGH Centurions’ premature exit from the Championship play-offs leaves big decisions to be made for next season.

The team, and departing head coach Ian Millward, bowed out of Grand Final contention with Thursday’s disappointing 20-10 home defeat to Sheffield Eagles, who will face league leaders Featherstone Rovers in Sunday’s showdown at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Interviewing and announcing a new head coach as well as making decisions on the many players who are to become out of contract are now on the 'jobs to do' list.

It has also been a week of reflection on a fine campaign that included Northern Rail Cup glory but faltered at the final hurdle in the title chase.

Millward, who will be Castleford’s head coach in Super League next season, praised every member of his 2011 squad.

He said: “Someone once said to me at St Helens after I’d won a trophy, ‘you’ve done a good job’. I replied ‘I think the players had something to do with it’ and that is certainly the case here. They’ve been good.”

And he feels a platform has been laid for the future.

“Winning the Northern Rail has given everyone at the club the chance to move forward with regard to the next three years if they really want to have a shot for Super League. There is a tick in that box,” he said.

He ends his second spell at the club with fond memories.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here,” he said.

“This is a rugby league town and the supporters get behind the team and deserve great credit.

“If you take the Sheffield game out of it, they have enjoyed one great season with the way the guys have played and how they have gone about their business.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces and sometimes wish I could have been on the terrace with them with a pint in my hand and clapping along.

“I think it’s pretty important in our sport that we can provide that when people turn up. The players have done that.”

Wing Steve Maden is one of the players whose future is yet to be determined.

He admitted to being ‘like everyone else in a bit of a limbo’ but reiterated his desire to stay with the club. Maden reflected on where he felt it went wrong against Sheffield on a night when Chris Hill and Jamie Ellis made their last appearances for the club before joining Warrington Wolves and Hull FC respectively.

“The last two weeks we went off the boil a bit,” he said.

“To be honest we never stuck to our game plan and Sheffield were the better team on the day. We’ve no excuses, we just didn't play to our potential.

“They were a lot more dominant than us. We knew it was going to be a tough game and in a way it was one too many for us.

“We had a tough game at Featherstone and we really missed Tommy Goulden as well.

“There were a lot of lads on that pitch who, had it been a regular season game, wouldn’t have played but it was cup football, knock-out games and everyone wanted to play.”

The 28-year-old reflected on a season in which ‘team’ was the key word.

“Basil (Millward) has just got the best out of everyone,” he said.

“We know there are no superstars in this team but we’ve got a bunch of lads who were willing to work their hearts out for each other.”

Despite the deflating end to the season, Leigh have got three players in the Co-operative Dream team in top point scorer Mick Nanyn, top try scorer Ellis and outstanding Hill, all of which were honoured at Tuesday night’s glittering dinner that saw Daryl Powell of Featherstone named as coach of the year, while Ellis capped a memorable season by walking away with player of the year and young player of the year awards.

“I’m made up, it’s a complete surprise,” he said. “It’s down to the lads and the team we’ve had and of course the coaching of Basil.”