Neil Turley

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Neil Turley is a retired professional rugby league player who played for Leigh Centurions.

1 Career Start
2 Debut Season
3 Records Broken
4 Retirement

[edit] Career Start

Neil started his career as a junior with Wigan, coming through their Academy set-up. As an Academy player he starred in the 1998 Academy Grand Final for Wigan in their defeat to the Leeds Rhinos, who boasted such current international stars as Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow.

His senior career looked unlikely to prosper at Wigan as Turley played understudy to Great Britain Full Back Kris Radlinski. Sensing his options were limited, he was offered the chance to join Second Division side Leigh Centurions who, after years in the wilderness, were looking to regain their status. Another contributing factor to this decision may have been the fact that his father was the Centurions' Assistant Coach. Making his début in a friendly against Australian outcasts South Sydney Rabbitohs in late 2000, Neil showed great promise.

[edit] Debut Season

His début season as a senior player in 2001 saw Turley smash the world record for tries by a Full Back, ending the Season with 55. He also gained Representative Honours, starring for Lancashire as the only player from a non-Super League club to play in the Origin series against rivals Yorkshire. His début season featured a shock Challenge Cup victory over Super League neighbours Salford City Reds and saw Leigh finish 9 points clear at the top of the Northern Ford Premiership and claim the short-lived Trans-Pennine Cup. Turley was also the target of Warrington Wolves who tabled a bumper offer to the Leigh club but Turley repaid the faith that the Centurions has shown in him by turning it down. However, the fantastic year was marred as defeat in the play off semi-finals eventually saw Widnes go on to win the Grand Final and a place in Super League.

[edit] Records Broken

The next three years saw Turley break many more club records including goals in a season and points in a season. Yet the ultimate prize, Grand Final success, eluded the Centurions. In 2002 and 2003, the relegated Super League sides, Huddersfield Giants and Salford City Reds remained fully professional teams. Thus, their full time fitness and coaching led to defeat in successive Grand Finals for Leigh. When Halifax were relegated to play in the 2004 National League competition, their financial troubles meant they were unable to retain a full-time team and struggled, paving the way for Leigh to go about achieving their dream. Leigh defeated Whitehaven 32-16 after over-time to finally attain Super League status for the 2005 season.