FRANKIE Halton insists there will be no room for complacency when Leigh Leopards visit the capital to tackle London Broncos on Sunday.
Broncos remain bottom of the Super League table but Leigh-born coach Mike Eccles has guided them to two wins from three games so far this month.
“They have been playing some good rugby,” confirmed Halton after Leopards’ crucial 26-0 Magic Weekend victory over Salford at Elland Road.
“We won’t be taking them lightly.
“If anything will get us, it will be complacency.
“We have five games left and need to win them all.
“So, we will take them 100 percent seriously to make sure we keep our play-off hopes alive.”
Leigh will seek a seventh win in eight games when they visit Wimbledon-based Broncos’ Plough Lane home (kick-off 3pm).
Leopards’ recent form has seen them close the gap on their top-six rivals but they remain three points off a play-off spot.
Salford, Catalans and St Helens are in sixth, fifth and fourth, all on 26 points.
Salford entertain Huddersfield on Saturday, Catalans travel to Leeds on Friday night while Saints host current leaders Hull KR on Saturday.
“We will control what we can control and see where we end up,” added Halton, individually in the best run of form and fitness since joining his home town club last season.
“This season, I have had a lot of consistency and it’s bringing the best out of me.
“As the team has got better, my form has increased as well.”
Halton even scored his first try for the club in the recent home win over Hull FC only to be over shadowed by second row partner, Kai O’Donnell’s four touchdowns.
“It had been a running joke with Lammy and the boys about me not scoring so it was good to get over,” he laughed.
“Hopefully, I will get a few more before the end of the year. I’m better known for getting my head down and working hard.
“If you have watched Kai, he’s probably been the best back rower for two years,” confirmed Halton. “He plays well week in, week out so you know what you are going to get.”
O’Donnell is one of Leigh’s current squad leaving at the end of the season. But Halton insists regular headline reminders about comings and goings haven’t been a distraction.
“It is background noise,” he said. “We don’t pay any attention; it’s just part of the rugby league circus!
Winger Josh Charnley is available for selection again after missing Magic because of a one-game ban.
Leopards’ trip to the capital is the first of five remaining games in the regular season.
They host Warrington on August 30, travel to Castleford on September 6 before finishing with back-to-back home games against Hull KR (September 13) and St Helens (September 20).
*Leopards have been linked with Dolphins and Tongan centre Tesi Niu, 23, with Magic Weekend try scorer Ricky Leutele returning to Huddersfield Giants.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here