Leigh Centurions Coach Neil Kelly is warning his players to keep their minds off the Super League Licence bid and concentrate on the League campaign.
Neil said: "It isn't necessarily a problem. But all the talk about who will get a Licence on July 22nd, although understandable, is , I feel, deflecting from the real business for the players and club at this time, of winning our Cooperative National One League games and the League.
"I know Super League is where everyone wants to play and be, but I don't feel that whether a club is getting more fans than their rivals, or putting in more junior development or winning more games, will in any way influence the decision on who gets the Licences at this stage.
" I think, or I would like to think, that all that has been addressed in the applications and the decisions are being made on that basis.
"Sadly the fact that people are talking about the Licences is taking away the spotlight from some very good teams, playing some very good rugby in some very good games in a very good competition!"
There is little argument to be had with regard to the Neil's take on the Cooperative National One competition and with four wins in five games since his arrival Leigh have moved into fourth place in the table with a five point gap to make up on third placed Celtic Crusaders.
This weekend Leigh are without a game due to the playing of the Northern rail Cup Final, but they are back in action next Thursday evening when they travel to Halifax for what will prove a very testing clash. Never the less Neil is determined that his players will be ready to cause something of an upset.
" We owe them one." He says, " My first job as Leigh Coach was to accompany Chris Hill to the disciplinary after he had been sent off in the game against Halifax, when we were leading by a good few points , but then got beaten. I Like to think that the sending off had a direct bearing, but it is up to us to redress that next Thursday."
Leigh should have a clean bill of health from the win over Sheffield Eagles, apart from the long term casualties of Nathan McAvoy, Dennis Moran and Andy Hobson. " Nathan is looking to be fit for the play-offs, Dennis and Andy have their pots off this week, but then we will have to see how they have healed." Adds Neil.
" Otherwise we have everyone fit. We came through against Sheffield intact , and I was pleased with the win. We are paying respect to eth basics more now and I am learning about my team and players, and to be honest I am seeing qualities in them that I didn't know they had when I took over. We are evolving together, and starting to get the results in the way we want them. But we need to learn to kill sides off sooner.
Sheffield area dogged side and I know now why they are as high in the league as they are. They never give up and they wear referees down. We couldn't play the game at the pace we wanted but, I still feel the score line flattered them.
" But it is al part of the learning process, and Halifax will be another step on that curve. They are an excellent side with top strike players who have had some great results. Now it is up to us to show how we have improved since the last meting and come away with the points,"

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