Warrington Wolves centre Matty Blythe was due to play in last Sunday's clash with Featherstone Rovers, but missed the game after being taken ill on Saturday.

"It was a huge disappointment to us and to Matty," said Centurions coach, Ian Millward.

"He was set to play alongside Lee Mitchell and Jacob Emmett, but we decided not to risk him after he had been unwell. But I am hopeful he will be available for the game at Dewsbury on Sunday then against Barrow in our first Co-operative League game the following Thursday at Leigh Sports Village."

Leigh have actually signed two of Blythe's team-mates, Tyrone McCarthy – who played in the Challenge Cup Final win over Huddersfield last season – and Mitchell, who made an impressive debut in the win over Featherstone.

Emmett is from St Helens and also showed plenty of promise. Unfortunately for Leigh, McCarthy was called into Warrington's squad for the game at Castleford and was therefore unable to play for Leigh on the same weekend.

"All four players are available to us to the end of the season when they are not required by their Super League clubs,'' explained Millward. "We are allowed four in the season, and a maximum of three from any one club. All must be under-23 and in the first team squads. This arrangement will help them develop as players and help us as a club."

Mitchell and Emmett certainly helped give Leigh a boost last weekend, but it was the return of Chris Hill that Millward saw as the biggest impact on Leigh's performance.

"He was immense and I gave him my man of the match award," he added. "He sparked the rest of the pack and that enabled us to get the backs more involved. I though Macgraff Leuluai was also outstanding.

"After the dreadful showing against York we needed to do something for the fans and the lads did that. We played some skilful rugby to break the Featherstone line, and we even got over the Rovers try line five times only to be held up. That is something I have never experienced before to such an extent.

"But we are stepping up the ante now, and on Sunday we need to win to ensure we achieve our goal of qualifying for the next round of the competition. It will be hard at Dewsbury. They are a strong side and we will have to work hard.

"And then it is a quick turn-around for the Thursday night home game against Barrow.

"That is something else we are all looking forward to, the opportunity to play under floodlights in our new stadium.

"The gloves are off now and everything is fully underway as far as our
season is concerned. We have no new injuries, but we do have a big week ahead of us and we need to be ready to get a maximum return for our efforts."