Listened to him on Radio Manchester on the way home.
He praised the effort his players had made through the season and said they had done well.
He said too many mistakes were made but would not criticise the ref or any individual players.
He said that there was a great spirit in the team and that great progress had been made at the club this season.
The closest he came to complaining was to say that this was not the team he would like to have picked.
Like all Leythers I was very disappointed, but arrived home with increased respect for our coach.

I second that

one word to some up how I feel[size=150 PROUD [/size

Totally agree, it would of been easy to have a good moan about the officials after the last two games but he's tended to focus on the positives, maybe one or two other coaches could take note. well done paul and role on next season.

post of the night

The best praise I can give Paul Rowley is I can't tell that Ian Millward isn't coaching us anymore. And he's the best coach I've ever seen at Leigh.

A big well done to Paul Rowley for sure, remember early on in the season people questioning him and I even remember a thread titled: "Brian Noble - it is time." PR has certainly showed the doubters.

To get a squad together on the last minute and to get it to 2nd place is exceptional - credit too to the players who stayed loyal to the club during the financial difficulties and didn't move elsewhere.

In the end though, our thin squad (we had no other choice) was our down fall but if we had a bit more quality (ala Penky) then we will come back stronger next year.

Proud of the lads but this play off curse is getting too far!!

Thinking back to last year when we had no coach, one player and very nearly no club, I think we've exceeded all expectations and most of the credit for that has to go to Paul who built his squad on a shoestring budget and made those lads into a team who would die for him and each other.

If someone had told me then that we'd finish 2nd in the league I would have laughed in their face, so regardless of the result tonight, I'm still proud of our coach, his staff and all the lads and I'd like to thank them all for giving us a great season. Bring on next season is all I can say and the Championship had better watch out for Leigh Centurions because we're gonna smash it.

Was anyone else dissapointed with how many stayed behind to clap them off after the game. I felt they deserved alot more than that.

I would even go as far to say that at times we've played better rugby this year than we did under Millward.

Sat in boozer after game thinking how strange I felt. I expected to lose heavily with no pack, I had given up after Sheff scored first in the second half then I was gutted the call went against us in the last minute which would have set up an amazing 100 seconds.

All the coaching and back room staff every single player involved this season with the Centurions can hold their heads up high and feel mighty mighty proud of the way they have played and conducted themselves throughout this campaign
Well Done and I can't wait for next season in my opinion it's gonna be one of the best ever.

we bottled it. our 17 were better than their 17 tonight even with all our injuries. its hard to take the positives after again being 80minutes away from a grand final and blowing it. Fair play we have come along way this season, but when it mattered we blew it.

Well i am happy to say i was wrong about paul rowley, i didnt think he was good enough to be our head coach, but boy has he proved me wrong. He has been tottaly professional in all aspects, has managed to construct a fantastic spirit in the team, and i can only see positives with paul in charge.

Gutted about the result,but very proud of everyone involved with this great club for what they have achieved this season,hold your heads up high guys and take all the positivity forward to next season.Have a great close season you deserve it.Also to John Duffy for the loyal service to the club, we will miss you.
Once again thank you one and all.

Go give your head a shake will you..............
Given the respective 17s on show from both sides and with the HT score, IMO we did excellent to get within a score with 1 min left.
At HT I was expecting Th`eagles to get 48+

Well done to the lads for battling on after a shocking start, we good have won but I doubt it would`ve been deserved on 80 mins.

Despite the result I am not too upset.

Full strength would we have won ? We know we would.

Well done Sheffield.

Last 10 minutes atmosphere in the North stand was awesome.

Next season I think we'll be the team to beat.

To everyone of our players thanks lads.

I have never seen a better team spirit in a Leigh side and to Paul Rowley you are a marvel considering were we where last October.

We as fans should be proud.

Great effort from you boys. Really sad you couldn't progress to the final but well done on a top season. Looking forward to locking horns next year..from Swinton Lion.

I agree with Matt and Mr Scratcher.

Oh, and the young man from Salford.

I hear you are loaning a few players to Wires reserve team next season. Even your team name is starting to disintegrate (swinton lion)

Your easily pleased, Rowley had a shocker with his selection policy last night.......... I'm astonished with the team assembled we haven't won anything............... We made Sheffeild look like superstars

Think you're being hugely disrespectful to Sheffield - let's not forget that Fev have only taken two points from six against them, never mind the tonking they gave Halifax. Sheffield were coming in to the game red hot and we were on our last legs with injured players turning out, players out of position through no choice of their own (or Rowley's), it happens. I'm happy to admit that I was one of the doubters when Rowley was appointed, but if a Challenge Cup quarter final, NRC semi final and a chance of still finishing top on the last day isn't enough to win you over then what is?

Its Rowleys fault.......

Nicholson at 13, when you have Littler who can play backrow and a winger on the bench, where Maden could have gone centre

Duffy could of played 13 also

Taylor is never a prop, and we had 4 recognised props playing in Thornley, Spencer, Ostick and Gallagher, he got banged about alot

Nicholson should of interchanged at 9 which is his only position

Brierley came on and changed the game, but it was too late

Ridiculous squad selections, is this the sign of an out of depth coach? I think it is.........

Wouldn't say in the slightest that Thornley and even Gallagher are 'recognised props'. Needs must.