When Neil Jukes was appointed coach at the start of last season, the squad for the first match at Batley included the following players who have since left the club:-Chase (Castleford), Armstrong (Widnes), Brierley (Huddersfield), Kay, Beswick Pownall, DIxon, Emmitt ,Moimoi, Waorthington (all Toronto). Now, just over 12 months later we are establishing ourselves in superleague!!! He has to go down as our best coach since Alex Murphy and his 81/2 Championship winners. If only we could borrow Woods and Drummond from that side!!!!

A bit presumptions there CL, ALL the above named players including Chase have been replaced by better players, I don't think any of these players would get into our team at the moment.
I realise Jukesy must have had some input into the signing of the current squad ,but we are only 6 games into the SL season ,3 wins,and 3 losses so to label him the best Coach since Murphy, is a bit early.Also a Coach can very soon fall from grace, look at McDermott of Leeds last year, and Smith and Cunningham at the moment,we have had a few good coaches at Leigh over the years,I remember Steve Simms being hailed as the second coming after a few games at Leigh, we should let Jukesy enjoy his Coaching, and not forget the input of Cooke and Purtill as well.

Be interesting to see how Worthington would have coped at this level, however had he stayed we probably wouldn't have got Crooks who has been excellent for us.

With regards to the coach, this season has impressed me no end the way we are structured on the pitch - defensively it is the best I can remember in over 40 years of watching. Jukes at the helm must take an aweful lot of credit for that, but as you say we have 3 coaches (Anderson along with the above) - not sure if other SL clubs have the same set up but it certainly appears to be working

We've also got to remember that no other Leigh coach has had the level of funding that Jukesy has enjoyed.

Absolutely definitely without a doubt Sir Jukes is up their with Alex Murphy OBE

The proof of the pudding is actually after the eating, ie it is how a coach is viewed in retrospect that counts.

Murphy brought major success to Leigh. As a lad, I was always sure that Leigh would win if they were there or thereabouts at half-time as a Murphy roasting generally sent the players back out 100% committed (Ferguson bought his hairdryer second hand as Alex had been giving blow dries for years at that point). He defected but all these years on he retains the respect of all that remember his time here.

Rowley was generally well regarded in his time here too. He too defected but has lost everyone’s respect, not just as a man due to the manner of his departure (for Bongser, it reminded him of waking up next to a coyote and wishing the previous night away), but also as a coach as Jukes stepped in at virtually zero notice and, in his first season, achieved what Rowley had failed to achieve (despite the former incumbent’s attempts to destabilise the club from without).

Jukes & Co have certainly brought the team on and this pudding is tasting good at the moment. Time will tell.

Come on Jukes' Leythe!

Charlie knows...... Sweet FA about Rugby League. Chase is way more talented than anything you have in your squad at the minute. His problem is that he's a grade A bell-end and can be added to the long list of "all the talent in the world" players who p1ssed their careers away. If you think Brierley is anywhere near the level of a fully fit, fully focused Rangi you need your head wobbling. You can add Hock to the "what might have been" list as well.

You've made a great start to SL life tho and seem to be playing as a team. Look forward to a great game when we "welcome"

you to the AJ Bell....

Hock??? Really ?? He's playing the best rugby of his life at the moment so that's a crock of sh$t!!

Team is 80% when operating at or near the cap, if we can keep the culture and add to the 20% in about 3 or 4,years we will be competing for the pots.

Gaz Hock's career isn't finished yet. He's playing better than ever and is a firm favourite of the Leythers. He appears to be happy at Leigh and that's important for any player. He hasn't wasted his career by any stretch of the imagination. There is more good rugby left in Gaz Hock.
As for Jukesey it's too early to say regarding the heading of this particular thread. It's currently a case of so far so good and long may it continue.

Good to see a good young British coach doing well along with his very good British assistant coaches.
Long way to go just yet before we say 'best coach' but no harm in enjoying what is a currently a damn good time to be a Leyther.

A long way to go yet, but Neil has done incredibly well, since being chucked in at the deep end. Here's wishing him all the success in the World!

I'll second that Alan.

Long way to go..

When Rowley was appointed I was made up, watching a bloke come through the ranks to take the mantle over. To be fair he had a great spell as gaffer, and I enjoyed his gameplay. However, another fine upcoming coach was watching and learning which was Juksey.... this fella has grabbed the job with both hands and with his assistants are absorbing a massive learning curve and are giving us, the team and this town of ours something we have been missing....

Pride, and beleighf

I feel sorry for Jukesy a bit cos he doesn't get the same hero worship that mr integrity got . I can't remember Jukesy getting applauded when he walks across in front of the North/ West stands like Rowley did. He is doing a brilliant job along with. all of his assistants. And our defence is immense and getting better by the game. It was the current coaching team that got us where we are and I reckon a lot of praise is richly deserved

Well we dont applaud Juksey because for most in that stadium it's new ground for all.Rowley is back in his comfort zone,why his understudy is out of that zone and making progress along with fine guidance. They are going up against some of the most experienced coaches in RL and doing more than living with it..

Well done Juksey and the coaching team..

That's my point exactly so. Everyone should show appreciation of the job that he/ they are doing

To be fair i was in the royal box against hudds (normally in the north) and a sudden round of applause was going on below when I looked down it was for jukesy so well done west.

The north has cheered for him the last couple of games too

Good hadn't noticed

Guys, the point I'm trying to make about Hock is that with his talent he should have been one of the first names on the England team sheet for the past 10 years. I've been watching Rugby League for over 25 years and IMO Hock is the most destructive British 2nd row I've seen along with Sam Burgess. His talent warranted far more than a couple of good seasons in the twilight of his career playing for (no disrespect) smaller clubs like Salford & Leigh. He COULD have been a great but he's basically p1ssed that chance up the wall. I've nothing against the guy personally I just think it's a sad waste of talent.

There's nothing he or we can do about his past, but whilst he's been here he's got his life back on track both on and off the field. Well done to him and those at the club for giving him a chance.

Please invest a bit of time into learning the basics of psychology and you're coulds, woulds and shoulds will be redundant. It's a complete moot point to talk about the past like the above. Gareth Hock is evidently the happiest he's been in a long time, such is the environment he is now in and his performances confirm that. The best signing Leigh have made in the last 3 seasons and the one that encouraged other big names to sign such as Mickey Higham, that ultimately propelled the team forward to where they are now. And as fans we're all benefiting from that. Brilliant.

And to add to the thread subject. Collectively, the current coaching team are the best strategically and for their focus on player well-being is the best I've experienced as a fan in 30 years. What a time to be a Leigh Centurions fan, just superb. Thanks Derek Beaumont for making this happen - get a statue designed for Sir Derek.

Now's the time for that - it would be a darned sight smaller (and therefore cheaper) than it would a few months ago!