25 September 2023 , 21:45
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Josh Charnley could so easily be working on a building site - yet arrived at the Super League Dream Team event in a Lamborghini.
The prolific ex-England winger, 32, almost quit last year after his shock Warrington exit left him disillusioned with rugby league. But he was persuaded to carry on by Leigh, helped Adrian Lam’s side secure promotion and now they both are flying.
Having already won the Challenge Cup final, the Leopards are targeting Super League glory starting with Friday’s play-offs eliminator at Hull KR - the team they conquered in their first Wembley success in 52 years. Charnley has scored 29 tries in as many games along the way.
He was one of five Leigh players who received Dream Team shirts from the iconic Ellery Hanley at a Manchester hotel on Monday. The Leopards quintet arrived in style, pulling up in owner Derek Beaumont’s Lamborghini sports cars.
It’s a decade since Charnley last got a Dream Team nod with Wigan in 2013. And he admitted: “It is nice. Especially as I was going to hang my boots up last year. I was dead-set. Speaking to Sam Tomkins, Derek, Lammy and seeing the plans Leigh had, I was intrigued. But at the back of my mind I was done.
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“I got into the mix with Leigh, though, and my love came back for it all. Lammy gave me time to find my feet. I didn’t want to go in there and think I was something special coming from Super League to Championship. I wanted to earn respect. We had some very honest conversations and it just grew. Being a part of this group of lads, it has rekindled my love for the sport again. And I’m lucky enough to get these accolades at the end of the season.”
But what would he have been doing if he decided to go the other way? Charnley said: “I’m a qualified bricklayer. I still work on my days off from rugby I enjoy it that much! I work for a company called Brookhouse who do extensions on schools and stuff. I’ll go straight into that when I do retire. But I can learn while still playing. Even though I am qualified I’m still learning different bits of the trade.”
Leigh’s Josh Charnley runs in for a try against Wakefield (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)Meanwhile, he is looking forward to going back to where it all started: a teenage Charnley scored five tries in five games when on loan at KR from Wigan in 2010. He recalled: “I was on loan at Blackpool when Michael Maguire rang me and said they wanted me at Hull KR and what did I think? It was Super League experience and a great five weeks.
“I was under Chezzy (Leigh head of rugby Chris Chester) at the time and Justin Morgan. There were players like Michael Dobson and Clint Newton who showed me the way a little bit. It’s a very passionate place. I was lucky enough to play in the Hull derby. I went out for breakfast that morning and nowhere was open because it was derby day. It’s a good buzz up there. And it’s always tough. The fans always get on your back.
“And the way they’re going - into the Challenge Cup final, into the play–offs - they’re building something good there. They’ve recruited really well for next year so Hull KR are definitely heading in the right direction.”
But Leigh aren’t done yet, either. Although they dropped to fifth after Friday’s narrow loss against Wigan - being replaced by Rovers in fourth - they see no reason why their glory year can’t extend to a maiden Grand Final. Charnley said: “The boys have had a couple of tough weeks now where the games have been quite close so you’re getting into that finals style of football. We’ve been ready for it coming.
“Rovers will be a tough place to go but if we stick to our systems and do our gameplan, don’t shy away from what we’ve spoken about, it should be a good game.”
However, Leigh’s Dream Team prop Tom Amone is out after picking up a one-game ban although the club will appeal it.