RUGBY LEAGUE
DEAN RETURNS IN STYLE
DENIS BETTS hailed Widnes comeback king Chris Dean as they started the season in style.
The 30-year-old former centre missed most of last season due to bicep and shoulder injuries.
But Dean, now plying his trade in the second row, tore the Dragons apart with two of his side’s seven tries and set up another for Joe Mellor with an explosive burst.
Coach Betts said: “We missed him but he has come back superbly. He’s quick and strong.
“We are the only people who think we can do anything this season and we have set our own goals. The new lads have also given us a boost.”
The Vikings, trailing 12-6 until just before the break, ran in 34 unanswered points to leave Catalans without a win on their last six visits to the Halton RYAN BRIERLEY silenced the boo boys with a shock win for the Championship new boys.
Brierley was one of 10 former Leigh players who copped abuse throughout the first-ever clash between the two sides.
But never in the home fans’ worst nightmares would they have imagined their ex-coach Paul Rowley masterminding such a crushing win.
Brierley, who kicked four goals and scored a try, said: “We knew it was going to be hostile.
“I’m thankful it’s all done with because there was a pantomime around it before the game. We just wanted to play and get out.”
Leigh, who received a £500,000 parachute payment after being relegated from Super League, raced into a 12-0 lead.
Tries from Harrison Hansen and Matty Dawson looked like making it a tough day for the Canadian side, who won promotion from League One last season.
But Brierley said his team always knew they would fight back and said: “There was no panic and we stayed nice and controlled. We knew they are a formidable side with plenty of money and talent, so it’s great to get the win.”
Rowley – who has had a running feud with Leigh owner Derek Beaumont since walking out in 2016 – avoided the post-match press conference. Assistant coach Simon Finnigan said: “There was a lot of emotion coming into the game but there’s not a lot that gets to Paul.” Toronto fought back thanks to a try from Adam Sidlow and one from former Leigh star Liam Kay. But they totally took control in the second half, with three tries in 10 minutes knocking the stuffing out of the home side. Cory Paterson – another former Leigh forward – raced 75m for an interception try with Kay and Brierley also going over. Leigh never looked like getting back into the game and Kay had the final say with his hat-trick try. Leigh boss Neil Jukes said: “I am massively disappointed in the way we let ourselves down. There has to be some accountability.”