BROWN’S OUT TO LEAD LEIGH TO TOP
Stokes ready to Lord it over the Aussies
BEN STOKES plans to spark an Ashes comeback at Lord’s – after warning Australia to find their inspiration elsewhere.
Just one month has passed since Stokes lit up the Home of Cricket with a World Cup final winning performance to send England fans into raptures.
And he is keen to reproduce that kind of form today when he returns to a ground where Australia have lost two of their last three Ashes Tests.
The tourists previously boasted an incredible record at Lord’s but England all-rounder Stokes said: “Lord’s is the perfect place for us to
get our Ashes WORLD CUP finalist Kevin Brown says that helping Leigh to promotion would rank alongside anything else in his career.
The Warrington stand-off has joined the ambitious Centurions on loan for the remainder of the season as they bid to regain their Super League status.
Brown (right) has not played this season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during pre-season but is now nearing the end of his recovery.
And ahead of an expected move to Salford next season, the former England international says that helping campaign back on track because we need to hit back at Australia hard.
“People come here and say they are inspired by Lord’s and it really gets them going.
“But this is our Home of Cricket and nobody else’s.
“We take pride in playing at this place more than any other team and just because we get to play here each summer doesn’t make it any less special when you come through the gates. “It gets me going every time I play here because it is a grand stage on which Leigh up from the Championship would rank as a major highlight in his career.
The 34-year-old said: “I’m gutted to leave the Wolves but it has opened up another door for me and I’m really excited about coming to Leigh.
“I could have sat with my feet up and got my money for the rest of to perform. This is where you want to play your best cricket.
“All the visiting teams want to come and play here and at the end of their careers players like to say, ‘I did this at Lord’s and I did that at Lord’s.’
“This is our special place, this is England’s ground, it is nobody else’s and we want to make sure the Australians leave here with nothing other than a few photos.”
Stokes will be on the front foot this week, which is exactly what skipper Joe Root wants to see from his whole team.
Root knows the Aussies like being front runners and dominating teams once they are on top. But Stokes revealed he is determined to stop them at source.
“The way Joe addressed the team at the start of this week was in a different way to how he normally does which shows how much this means to him and to all of us,” added the Durham star.
“We saw another side to him with the way he said what he said.
“He was forthright and more passionate with his words which was quite refreshing and good to see.
“It showed he’s not feeling any nerves or doubts about what he wants from us and he reinforced that we drive forward and don’t let Australia get on top.
“He wants a reaction from us. We need to respond to the first game, hit back hard and let the Aussies know they are in one heck of a battle in this series.
“Everyone follows him and listens to him and wants to perform for him, so it was great to get that energy from him and that strong leadership that he brings.” the year but that’s not me. I want to play and I want to play well – I’ve got a huge amount of motivation to do well for Leigh.
“I’ve been monitoring their results and their recent signings and they’re a dark horse for promotion. “I’m really confident about my injury and have passed all the tests. “I would get a massive sense of achievement if I helped them get promoted and I’d be the happiest man in rugby league. It would be right up there with anything I’ve done in my career.”
Castleford three-quarter Tuoyo Egodo will rejoin his boyhood club London next season on a two-year deal.
Broncos coach Danny Ward said: “He is a player who came through our junior system, we have all worked with him before and know what he can bring to the group.
“It has been good for him to move away, get out of his comfort zone, work with different coaches and mature as a player and a person.”