LEIGHTHAL WEAPON

Leopards’ chief Chester’s great business off the pitch has given Wembley heroes a huge shot at silverware

- DAVE CRAVEN

ONE of the unsung heroes of Leigh's remarkable surge to Wembley is the man doing all the business off the pitch.

After being sacked as Wakefield head coach in August 2021, Chris Chester was unsure of his future.

But he took on the job of head of rugby at Championship challengers Leigh, tasked with building a squad to get them into the elite.

Barely 18 months later, not only is that squad in Super League but it's flying high in second and has reached a first Challenge Cup final in 52 years. Saturday's epic 12-10 semi-final win over St Helens has set up an August 12 showdown with Chester's former club Hull KR.

And the 44 year-old admitted: "I've loved every minute of it. It's exactly what I needed at that point in my career.

"I'd been a head coach so long and with the added pressure of what that brings - this was perfect.