Leigh Leopards delivered the most spectacular pre-match entertainment in Super League history - only for Salford to ruin the party.
Man of Steel Brodie Croft turned on the style to deny the promoted club a winning return to the elite and Ryan Brieley also shone against his former club. But it was harsh on Leigh who have been relegated in each of three times they’ve managed to get into Super League. They did enough here to suggest it won’t happen a fourth time - and put on a brilliant show on and off the field.
Leigh had been widely mocked for its shoddy attempt at a rebrand in October when ditching the Centurions name. New moniker Leopards was chosen on the whim of enigmatic owner Derek Beaumont. And it all looked cheap and cheesy while fans were furious the new-look kit wasn’t even red and white.
But that certainly wasn’t the case last night when things were properly launched. Chart-topping band Scouting for Girls played an electric set and Leigh’s new mascot Leeto the Leopard appeared out of spectacular circling fire before a huge fireworks display left Leigh Sports Village shaking. IMG will have loved it. Adrian Lam’s side rose to the occasion, initially causing Salford problems.
Joe Wardle rocked Salford star Croft with a rattling tackle that caused the Aussie to cough up the ball. And then his side opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Josh Charnley scored the rebranded club’s first try back in Super League when he latched onto Lachlan Lam’s looping pass.
Zak Hardaker failed with the conversion attempt but his side proved good value. However, they fell behind with Salford’s first real attack in the 34th minute. Croft produced a clever delayed pass to send England star Kallum Watkins over. Marc Sneyd converted and did so again just four minutes later when England hooker Andy Ackers exposed shoddy goalline defence.
Trailing 12-4, Leigh started the second period strongly only to self-implode. Charnely embarrassingly dropped a goalline drop-out. And to rub salt into the wound, ex-Leigh star Ryan Brierley scored in the next set after backing up some Croft magic in the middle. Sneyd improved but was then sin-binned for a 56th minute professional foul.
Charnley sped down the left wing only to be denied by Brierley but Sneyd laid on for too long. Oli Holmes then spilled on the first tackle against 12-men Salford but the hosts did controversially score two minutes later. Lam made the break with Brierely again coming up with a try-saver. But Gareth O’Brien dinked in a grubber from close range and the video referee awarded a penalty try, deeming Watkins illegally blocked the onrushing Jack Hughes.
Hardaker converted but Sneyd slotted a last minute penalty and Leigh's Tom Amone was sin-binned.
Boss Paul Rowley said: “When Marc Sneyd got sin-binned, Ryan Brierley came up with some tackles there that win games. He was steady, calm and unfazed at all the key moments. He’s got more mature as a player and understands the value of defence and that you gain respect from peers if you make sacrificial efforts that are special like that.
“He was safe under a lot of high balls and deservedly got man of the match. He’s a class player but Ollie Partington and Sam Stone were fantastic, too, and we really had to work hard for that win against a Leigh side who will take some scalps here.”
