RugbyL: Centurians battle for survival belief

LONDON: Glenn Stewart believes Leigh Centurions have enough quality to survive in Super League this season, insisting they will keep the faith after finally ending a dismal run of form.

Centurions took a monumental step towards lightening the mood at the Leigh Sports Village by claiming their first-ever away win of the competition courtesy of a 26-22 triumph at Hull FC on Friday night.

That results also ended a nine-match losing run but there is still plenty of work to do and former Australia back-rower Stewart is not prepared to 'sugar-coat' his team's fortunes so far this season, as they prepare for the daunting task of playing league leaders Castleford Tigers on Bank Holiday Monday.

"In patches, we're putting it all together but we're not doing it at the same time across the board," he said.

"We've got enough tools and enough players to be going better than we are. It's hard for me to sit here and say what we've been doing well on that back of so many defeats.

"It's not doom and gloom so we'll keep trying. I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Obviously, we'd like to be doing better, but we're not.

"We haven't lost faith or anything like that and we're still trying. It's a work-in-progress and there's no way out of it except trying.

"We're finding our feet here and people are doing the right things off the field. In patches, we're putting it all together but we're not doing it at the same time across the board."

Elsewhere, Warrington Wolves head coach Tony Smith wants to see a response from his side against Salford Red Devils after they suffered a 40-0 thrashing at the hands of Leeds Rhinos.

Hooker Matt Parcell scored his first Super League hat-trick for the Rhinos and the result sees a three-point gap open between eighth-placed Warrington and St Helens above them.

The Wolves have recovered from their woeful start to the season, but that defeat offered a reminder that things are far from rosy in Warrington's garden.

- 'eat you up' -

"It's how you respond to it that's the important bit. In some ways it's good that we play on Monday," Smith said.

"It's horrible when you've got long turnarounds after playing poorly, dwelling on it can eat you up.

"We've only got a few days to dust ourselves off and we can get out there and make some amends."

There are only five games on Monday after Huddersfield Giants postponed their clash with St Helens, due to Huddersfield Town's Championship play-off clash with Reading at Wembley Stadium.

Most eyes will be on Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity, with the clash crucial for the defending champions after they suffered another defeat to neighbours St Helens on Thursday.

Wigan are now winless in four Super League matches and face a Wakefield team that sits one place above them in the table.

But winger Tom Davies insists there are positives to take and expects his side to put in a much better display against Wakefield.

"We keep one eye on the table, but we're coming together as a team, we're improving and we've got to keep that going," he said

"They're [Wakefield] a good team and Chris Chester is doing a great job with them."