The following is a comparative analysis of Jukes(NJ) and Paul Rowley(PR)
-PR had favourite players ,NJ does not.He selects players to win and match and does not appear to have problem dropping those players who don't perform
-PR always praised the team ,NJ is critical of the team when they don't perform.Popularity is less important than performance tends to be his mantra
-PR tended to stick with a settled team ,despite performance and players carrying injuries.NJ is more inclined to rotate the squad and pick players who he thinks will the game
-PR opted for an expansive game which resulted in some players making outrageous plays near to their own line;some came off and others did'nt,which proved to be costly in the'middle 8's.NJ game plans are more varied
-PR was ok when things were going his way but appeared not to cope in difficult situations(ie 'Miiddle8's)NJ is more 'battle hardened' in view the range of situations he has had to deal with since PR resignation
I am sure fans will be able to add to this analysis

I thought someone had arranged a Boxing Match.

Make a few bob on pay tv that one

Odds on that Rowley would throw in the towel after the eighth, citing personal reasons!

Jukes wins for me ....

While I thoroughly bought into Paul's outward [iLove & Devotion[/i to Leigh Centurions RLFC & thought that the expansive play was some of the most exciting RL I had seen in years, Neil Jukes has taken the team onwards & upwards.

Expansive didn't gain promotion, we are yet to see if we are quite good enough now, yet I believe that we are much better placed & drilled to achieve SL as a [iTEAM[/i than ever before.

Of course there is no [iWakefield Trinity Schoolgirls[/i this season, but just 1 SL scalp & 3 Championship victories could see us there.

I hope beyond hope that we [ido Huddersfield[/i at home & gain automatic promotion without the MPG, & that Giants have to face A.N. Other SL Club in a fight to the death.

I also hope to see our fellow Championship Clubs give a good account of themselves against SL opponents & really take it to them, as I hope is the case with ourselves.

*NOT suggesting we will fly through this comp at all* but very hopeful that this is our year.

Neil Jukes & Derek Beaumont & this fine RL Club deserve a shot.

I was never a fan of Rowley, as I made perfectly clear for a couple of years on this forum.

I laugh, as his true colours have shined through, and all the Rowley lovers have gone back under the carpet.

Neil Jukes plays a sensible game, based on a high completion rate, low risk attack, forward orientated style of play which is needed to compete in Super League.

The fantasy rugby we played last year was just that, a fantasy. When you play a half decent side you get found out.

I think discipline has improved massively under Jukes.

Last season we were getting bans every week and were far too eager to react to any provocation with a show of force. Usually swept under the carpet by Rowley with a "if they want a fight, they'll get a fight" type comment.

Under Jukes we had only picked up 1 ban all season (Hoppy, 1 match) until all hell broke loose at the Swinton game and we got 3 at once.

It wasn't swept under the carpet, they were given a boll*cking and 2 of them forced to apologise publicly to the fans on the website for letting the side down.

It was condemned by Jukes, acknowledged as unacceptable by the players and there has been no incidents since then by any of our players.

Hopefully we will take that attitude to discipline into the 8's as it is a huge improvement on last season.

When I saw this post I thought they had a fight up Leigh or something .

Yeah fair play to you

PR was never your favourite person and you took some stick on here ..who's laughing now

Several clubs have had issues when they have played Swinton.

Fair points Cake Maker, especially 3 & 4. Hopefully Leythe will have more in the tank this season after the rotation and, as mentioned by Ste100Centurions, the sexy rugby under Rowls was thrilling when running rings 'round far inferior opposition, and especially against Wakey in the second half first time out (friends in the south sent many a purring text to me). Being sexy in the 8s, however, simply saw us shafted.

Full marks to Mooka, obviously a much better judge of character than I. Liked Rowley and, upon his resignation, albeit at an importune time, felt only sympathy for what I assumed was a family tragedy in the making. He stated that he'd not be speaking of the reasons either publicly or privately at the time. Just over a week later he was gobbling off to the media regarding it being to preserve his moral integrity (or whatever) and dissing DB by inference. Give it another month or so and he's got his feet under the table over the pond as head of the Ratpack.

Jukes or Rowley? The former by a country mile for all of the above but especially the last. Do let me know, Mooka, if you see any change. I don't wanna be the last to know!

Andy Tate called it about 3 years ago, he was speaking about Paul Rowley, not David Moyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmWXVHBo84A

Andy Tate called it about 3 years ago, he was speaking about Paul Rowley, not David Moyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmWXVHBo84A

Who's Rowley ?

Exactly. I don't see why his name keeps cropping up on here, he is yesterday's man.

I thought that was Chris Andrews.

Looks like Allan Rowley is still keeping an eye on these forums judging by his twitter feed

Charlie, that's going too far back in the world of 'pop music', only Salford Frank will know who he is, I didn't...had too 'google' him !

Cmon Budge, you can't fool us

I think it was around 1966.

PR put together the team that has been the best team in the league past few seasons. Neil Jukes took over the best team in the league with an open cheque book and kept them where they should be.

GFB..The season isn't over yet.

Yeah, he's no Richard Marshall is he? Zzzzzzzz

Really? I'm no statto but I'mpretty sure we've give more penalties away this season than last.

We gave away a lot of penalties for technical offenses but that seems to have improved in last handful of games. Hopefully will continue.

Last season we couldn't have a game that didn't have a brawl. All we heard from Rowley was "It's not our fault", whereas there seemed an entirely different attitude/response after the Swinton game.

Leythig's right, Joe. The penalties often cost us points and, admittedly games are won by having more points than the opposition. Sinbinnings and straight reds limit any teams chances of out scoring the enemy.

The first match of 2015, Bulls at LSV, was a game of rugby that had everything - thoroughly enjoyed it against the new kids on the block and, what's more, we won from behind. BUT the RFL are starting to clobber players with longer and longer bans and, whilst the squad came through during the suspensions after the battle with Swinton, Leythe can't afford to lose preferred players in the Eights.

Put the finger away and try to be honest, Joe!

Whats your point? Jukes has done all that he can really so far. Paul Rowley built the team but NJ has only done what any coach would do with the Leigh team, he now has a chance to better Rowley so we will see.

On that note, how well have Leigh honestly played this season compared to the talent in the team? You totally destroyed us but how many times have Leigh produced that sort of performance, one that I would expect as a regular occurrence with the money spent against the standard of teams they have been playing? It almost seems for every performance like that there has been 2 or 3 lacklustre performances and come the middle 8's Im not sure that can be afforded. All that said I suspect simply beating the championship teams will be enough to make the MPG as the other championship teams will not get close to their SL opposites. Make that game and its a one off where it could come down to a bad bounce of iffy penalty.