Last updated at 11:41, Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Gregg McNally could miss a return home to Whitehaven tomorrow with Leigh – over the birth of his baby.

Gregg McNally

The Recre scholarship kid produced one of the most stunning debuts in Haven’s history when he claimed a hat-trick at 17 in a home win over eventual champs Salford on Sky TV in 2008. But a question mark now hangs over his appearance for the Centurions in front of Premier Sports’ cameras.

Leigh boss Paul Rowley said: “His wife is due to give birth, I think in the next two or three days, so you might not see him. Gregg has been doing brilliant for us. He has settled in really well, is a really likeable lad and a good character.

“People forget his age. He is only 21 but seems to have been around for a lifetime. He is a young lad who is still learning and developing. He has good lads around him, and no egos. It’s probably like a step back in time to when he was at Whitehaven, which he speaks of very fondly.”

The ex-Kells junior, in his second season at Leigh after a stint at Huddersfield, featured at scrum-half for Haven but has developed in to a talented full-back.

“He took to the role like a duck to water,” said Rowley. “It gives him time, space and vision. We’ve given him a bit of freedom and let him express himself.”

Rowley is less than happy over the timing of the trip to Cumbria, brought forward three days to be shown live on Premier Sports.

“I would rather not be coming on a Thursday, obviously. There are no big dramas, but you would think they could have been done more sensibly,” he added.

He said it would have made sense to instead show Haven’s Cumbrian derbies, to cut down on long midweek trips. Haven’s Easter clash with Workington Town will be shown on TV.

First published at 11:36, Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk