Wolfpack back in lions den at Leigh
RYAN BRIERLEY insists Toronto’s pack of former Leigh players have left behind the controversies between the clubs, ahead of today’s mouth-watering Championship clash.
The two clubs meet with the Wolfpack having 14 players and an entire backroom staff of former Centurions. They are led by coach Paul Rowley, who resigned as Leigh coach on the eve of the 2016 season, and halfback Brierley, who is Toronto’s marquee player.
Brierley said: “I’d be stupid and lying if I said that there’s been no sort of issues between players at the Wolfpack and Leigh Centurions. But it’s fair to say that both parties have probably learned their lessons and moved on.
“I can guarantee that the players that left Leigh to join Toronto did so because they enjoy playing for Paul Rowley and that’s the bottom line.
“It’s not about the money or playing in the sunshine, it’s because they know his philosophy will make them happy.
“Leigh have moved on a long time ago – and likewise for our players.”
On forcing his own Leigh exit, initially to Huddersfield, Brierley added: “I think both parties would probably have done things differently. I was a bit naive at the time, it wasn’t ideal.
“But there’s no bad blood between me and the club, or chairman Derek Beaumont and coach Neil Jukes. I speak to both of them regularly.
“I’ve already been back to Leigh with Huddersfield and got a fair bit of grief – but that was expected.”