Relegation showdown full of a Million horrors

THIS time last year I was preparing to play in the Million Pound Game – so I know exactly what Leigh and Catalans are facing today.

It’s not a great game to be involved in as a player.

Whatever people want to believe, there are jobs on the line, and not just for players – it’s all the members of staff off the field as well.

At Hull KR we were lucky to have a chairman and vice-chairman in Neil Hudgell and Rob Crossland who were still prepared to bankroll the club when we went down.

But as a club you still have to cope with £1million less income, and there aren’t currently measures in place to me like a guy that thrives on playing in high-pressure situations having featured for New South Wales and Australia.

And I would imagine he’s the kind of player that can inspire some confidence in those around him.

Leigh, on the other hand, have been playing well apart from a poor performance against Widnes, and went to France and really hammered Catalans not long ago.

The Centurions have said that coach Neil Jukes will not lose his job even if they lose – and I think that will help take some of the pressure off him and the players. A coach certainly doesn’t need the added stress and distraction of going into a game thinking his own job is on the line.

It’s going to be a tough game and I can’t see it being an attractive one because of what’s at stake.

But I think Leigh can just edge it with the benefit of home advantage and keep their place in Super League. Whether it’s the last Million Pound Game or not I’m not sure – but I’d like to see a system where a team gets promoted by winning a Grand Final.