Newcastle Thunder Vs Leigh Programme
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OPPOSITION<br />
LEIGH CENTURIONS<br />
Another Sunday, another <strong>Thunder</strong> match<br />
day at Kingston Park. This time hosting<br />
current league leaders <strong>Leigh</strong> Centurions<br />
in what is expected to be a tough test for<br />
the North East outfit.<br />
Founded in 1878, the Centurions play their<br />
home games out of <strong>Leigh</strong> Sports Village<br />
Stadium and are currently headed by<br />
former Wigan Warriors and Papua New<br />
Guinea international, Adrian Lam with<br />
Adam Sidlow and Joe Mellor leading the<br />
squad as team captains.<br />
The side from Greater Manchester have<br />
a decorated history that includes nine<br />
league titles, two from the first division<br />
in 1905 and 1981 and seven from the<br />
second division in 1976, 1985, 1988, 2004,<br />
2014, 2015 and 2016. The Centurions have<br />
also secured a number of cup titles during<br />
their tenures including two Challenge<br />
Cups in 1920 and 1970 and as recently<br />
as May this year, they secured the 1895<br />
Cup at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium,<br />
finding themselves on the better side of<br />
a 16-30 score line against Featherstone<br />
Rovers.<br />
<strong>Leigh</strong> Centurions are having a stellar<br />
season so far, currently sitting fivepoints<br />
adrift at the top of the table. They<br />
have recorded 21 wins out of a possible 22<br />
with their only loss coming against their<br />
closest challengers Featherstone Rovers<br />
in February, where they fell to a 28-6<br />
defeat. Although it meant a strong 1895<br />
Cup campaign, the Centurions would be<br />
disappointed their Challenge Cup campaign<br />
fell short, exiting in the fifth round to Hull<br />
KR – despite an impressive performance,<br />
the Centurions fell to a 24-18 defeat to<br />
the Super League outfit. Despite the minor<br />
setback, they have set the benchmark for<br />
the season with a number of impressive<br />
league results which in turn has resulted in<br />
them obtaining both the best attacking and<br />
defensive output in the division.<br />
The Centurions current head coach is<br />
Adrian Lam. The former Sydney Roosters<br />
and Wigan Warriors scrumhalf joined<br />
the side in 2021 after a stint coaching<br />
his former side the Warriors for three<br />
seasons. He has also enjoyed coaching<br />
spells with the Papua New Guinea national<br />
team between 2006 and 2015. The 51-yearold<br />
is looking to lead his side to a return<br />
to the Super League having been relegated<br />
last season.<br />
The two sides have already faced off<br />
this season, with the Centurions hosting<br />
<strong>Thunder</strong> back in March. The league leaders<br />
showed their worth with a 34-18 victory but<br />
the lads from the North East could be proud<br />
of one of the stronger showings against<br />
such a clinical opponent this season.<br />
With the Centurions full of confidence,<br />
looking to further cement their position at<br />
the head of the table and <strong>Thunder</strong> desperate<br />
to make amends for their last outing at<br />
Kingston Park, an intense matchup is<br />
expected at Kingston Park this afternoon.
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