Derek Beaumont says Leigh Leopards are looking to replicate Leeds Rhinos

VaselineJune 6, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Derek Beaumont says Leigh Leopards are looking to replicate Leeds Rhinos

Leigh Leopards owner Derek Beaumont has revealed where he thinks his side will finish in Super League this season.

This is only the club’s second season back in Super League since being promoted from the RFL Championship via the 2022 Million Pound Game.

However, they have enjoyed plenty of success since then, with the Challenge Cup win – which marked a second win at Wembley in as many years – and a strong league play-off finish.

They had a tougher start to the season this year, winning just one of their first seven games of the season.

There has been an improvement since then, with wins over Catalans Dragons, Salford Red Devils and Huddersfield Giants.

Leigh Leopards player Ricky Leutele celebrates

Credit: Imago Images

Beaumont, asked where the club will finish this season, said: “You look at what’s around us, you look at the games we’ve got left to play, you look at the players we’ve got back, the players we’ve we have” re bringing over.

“I’m confident that if our best 17 are available on a field against five or six of the other team’s best 17, then I’m confident we can do a job on the vast majority, if not all.

“The key is to make the playoffs. It seems difficult from where we are for a lot of people, but when we go through the numbers that the question states, then we see a way of where this is actually happening.”

He went on to explain some of the problems the club is experiencing in terms of transfers, referencing the loss of club captain John Asiata to Hull FC.

He said: “I also look at what’s going on here. I’m not going to confirm that anyone is going because that’s not what we do, apart from John, who everyone knows and he’s a significant one because he’s the captain.

“But if you take some of the rumors at face value and some of the other announcements from other clubs and you think it’s good that a certain number of people are leaving here or coming to the end.”

Quiz: Can you name these former Leigh players?

Leigh Leopards to breed Leeds Rhinos?

Leeds Rhinos win the 2011 Super League Grand Final.

Credit: Imago Images

“It makes me look at the Leeds year when I think Maguire was going to KR, Sinfield retiring, Peacock retiring. There were a few of them who went away and didn’t have the best season in the final season and I think they limped in and came sixth and then won the Grand Final.

“It galvanizes a group when it’s falling apart at the end and you want to get together and do something one last time before you go. So it’s an important aspect, you speak up, you have to set the standard high.”

It confused a couple of separate seasons as Danny McGuire left in 2017, a season in which they finished runners-up but won the Grand Final, while when Sinfield and Peacock retired in 2015 they finished top of the league and won the Grand Final.

However, in both 2011 and 2012 they finished fifth before winning the Grand Final twice in a row.

It is possible to make up for a poor regular season.

If Leigh Leopards can move much higher than their current position of ninth, perhaps they can sneak into the playoffs and cause a shock.

Beaumont continued: “Our goals from the start of the season have not changed. I’d like to think we can finish sixth. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t, spending a full cap and three strings, but I won’t panic if we didn’t.

“We’ll reload for next year and reset the targets, but I think we can finish sixth.”

VaselineJune 6, 2024

0 2 minutes read

Quiz: Can you name these former Leigh players?

Leigh Leopards to breed Leeds Rhinos?

Vaseline

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