DAVE WOODS has tipped Leigh Centurions to storm into this year’s Co-operative Championship grand final – as he plots a way for his ailing York City Knights team to trouble their unbeaten record.
The Knights slipped to second-bottom of the table last week and have since seen star back-rower Ryan Esders, prop Brett Waller and goalkicking three-quarter Lee Waterman join the list on the treatment table.
Leigh, meanwhile, beat Hunslet 56-18 to make it eights wins and a draw from their nine matches, and such is the gap in form between the sides that Woods, normally keen to stress his team can beat anybody on their day, has admitted a bonus point is probably the best they can hope for at Huntington Stadium tomorrow (3pm).
But he says his side must concentrate on their own game regardless.
“Their half-backs are pretty good, their forwards are big and mobile, they’ve got good wingers and strong centres,” said Woods of fellow Aussie Ian Millward’s table-topping Centurions.
“They’ve also got a goalkicker (Mick Nanyn) who kicks them from everywhere and a Super League full-back (Stuart Donlan). They’re good all across the park.
“I’d say them and Featherstone are the best teams in the division.
“But we need to worry about ourselves, complete our sets and put pressure on them.
“I don’t think Hunslet put them under pressure and still scored tries against them.
“We need to build pressure and keep the ball away from them a bit.”
Woods said at the start of term how bonus points – for keeping the margin of defeat down to 12 or fewer points – could prove vital come the final reckoning. However, his side have yet to pick up such a point in six league defeats this term.
“We’re hoping to get a bonus point out of this game,” he added, acknowledging that anything else would be a major turn-up.
“If we do things right, we can beat them – only we haven’t been doing things right.”
Winger Dan Wilson and utility player Mark Barlow were dropped to the reserves this week – Mick Ramsden’s side lost 44-28 at Leigh on Thursday night – while Esders will also be missing from the 17 that lost at Batley last week due to a wrist injury and dead leg.
Fit-again Nathan Freer, teenage prodigy Ed Smith and utility man Steve Lewis come back into the side, while former amateur prop Davey Burns retains his place after coming in against Batley.
Chris Thorman is to start at half-back alongside Anthony Thackeray – the axis that ended the game at Mount Pleasant.
Woods’ decision to drop Wilson, with fellow winger Dennis Tuffour on loan at Hunslet and Hull FC-bound Tom Lineham not involved, leaves him with a difficult decision on how to fill the three quarters.
Smith or Lewis – who has played in every position barring full-back this term – could go to the wing, or Matt Garside could switch from the second row to centre, with James Ford going onto the flank. Paul Stamp and reigning reserves player of the year Jordan Rice are also included in a 19-man squad.
Leigh are likely to have Warrington Wolves starlet Rhys Evans back available. The 19-year-old threequarter, who has made eight Super League appearances this term, is on a dual-registration. He missed the win over Hunslet with a shoulder injury. Former Super League stars Robbie Paul and Ricky Bibey are long-term casualties.
Knights: from Bush, Haynes, Sutton, Ford, Thackeray, Thorman, Benson, Lee, Freer, Straugheir, Garside, Clarke, Smith, Burns, Stearman, Lewis, Presley, Rice, Stamp.
Leigh: from Donlan, Maden, Higson, Nanyn, McGilvray, Ridyard, Ellis, Hill, Duffy, Mills, Littler, Goulden, Talyor, Pownall, Thornley, Govin, Nash, Evans.
Referee: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley).
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