Some doubters may have questioned Gareth O’Brien’s decision to leave Castleford for Leigh ahead of this season.
He had a year left on his deal at Wheldon Road when newly-promoted Leigh offered the utility-back a two-year contract. But on each of three times they’d come up to Super League they’d immediately dropped back down again. Ex-Warrington, Salford and Toronto ace O’Brien, 31, could have found himself playing back in the Championship.
However, things couldn’t have gone better as not only are Leigh surviving - laughing off their relegation tag - they are thriving as the biggest success story of this campaign. Ahead of his first return to Castleford tonight, O’Brien’s flying side are second in Super League and 80 minutes away from the Challenge Cup final. It’s the Tigers, ironically, who still have relegation fears hanging over them being just four points clear of bottom-placed Wakefield.
