Jukes blasts Million Pound Game
LEIGH boss Neil Jukes expects to lose some of his players after the club’s relegation from Super League.
The Centurions lost the Million Pound Game 26-10 on Saturday against Catalans Dragons and must now prepare for life back in the Championship.
Although Leigh owner Derek Beaumont has pledged to top up the reduced £750,000 central funding in order to maintain a full-time club in the Championship, Jukes expects to lose players following their relegation.
“No doubt the agents will be back on because I know they’ve been touted out to other clubs,” he said. “We’ll have to see who wants to stay. It’s an absolute minefield.
“We’ll just have to regroup and probably look at doing what Hull KR did last year.”
Both Jukes and Catalans boss Steve McNamara condemned the concept of the Million Pound Game, which was introduced three years ago as part of the move to restore promotion and relegation to the game, and called for it to be scrapped.
Jukes said: “This was all about not losing a game. The uncertainty surrounding this situation is ridiculous.
“You talk a lot about player welfare and mental health but that comes around job security so this is hypocritical of what we stand for.
“There’s got to be a way for clubs to get up but ultimately people lose jobs and that’s sickening. There are guys in the changing room who are tough men and they’re crying.”
Former England boss McNamara said: “If you want promotion and relegation, take the gloves off and have no salary cap.
“Let the clubs spend what they want.”
The Dragons salvaged their spot with a second-half fightback highlighted by a brace of tries from full-back Lewis Tierney, but the celebrations were muted