John Duffy eagerly awaiting fans’ return at the Leigh Sports Village

Article by Ben Olawumi

Leigh Centurions manager John Duffy believes that the return of fans at his side’s matches will only benefit the team on the pitch, especially in front of a roaring home crowd.

Without a point from their opening three games back in Super League following promotion, the Leythers face Salford Red Devils at the AJ Bell stadium on Friday night in a battle at the bottom of the table.

But it is Leigh Sports Village where he can’t wait to be playing in front of fans again.

“It’ll be a massive bonus and a plus for us to have our fans back. When they’re in here, it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s bouncing and it does give you an extra six, eight points on the board, whatever it may be.

“Super League means everything to us and to them. The club hasn’t been here for a few years, so it does mean everything to the town.

“Before this season started, our fans hadn’t seen us play at all for 12 months so the sooner they can return, the better it will be for us.”

Duffy’s thoughts are backed up by the statistics from the club’s two previous stints in the top-flight, those coming in 2005 and most recently 2017.

Combining the two campaigns, the Centurions have claimed a total of eight Super League victories with six of those coming at home including four in the 2017 season with triumphs over local rivals Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and the reigning Champions St Helens.

He isn’t using the lack of fans at matches as an excuse for the team’s results however, he added:

“We knew what we were coming into having not played since last March and we knew that we had to come and face playing without crowds.”

His side may not have long to wait until they are able to welcome their fans back if the government’s exit plan from a COVID lockdown is on schedule.

If all goes well, the Leythers will return on the evening of 17th May for a clash with rivals Wigan, who have already defeated Duffy’s men this season – a 20-18 win in round one.

However, for now, the focus is on a big game against Salford as Duffy looks ahead to the fixture at the AJ Bell stadium.

“It’s a massive game for both clubs. They’ve had a tough start to the season – like us – and we’re probably around the same mark at the moment.

“We’ve got to go out there and give it our best regardless of our opponents because we’re fighting for our lives.

“We know we can perform so hopefully we can go out there and show it this week and it would be great if we could go and take two points out of it.”

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