Jukes' problem is that with the squad he inherited (even if it was last minute) it was almost impossible to 'over achieve' short of going unbeaten and making the semi's of the Challenge Cup!

He has gone unbeaten since that 1st game of the season although our cup run was ended early.

On the surface he has probably achieved what was 'expected' of him so far. It is only when you look deeper you see how much he has had to overcome.

Being thrown into the job just days before the season started having never had the 'top' job before.

His coaching staff of 4 was cut down to just 2 with Rowley leaving and Finny following.

The drama surrounding 1st Rowley, then Brierley, then Rangi all of which dragged on forever.

Quality players such as McNally, Beswick and Barlow missing the entire season so far with only Gregg likely to play any part at all.

Very long term absentees in Dixon, Tonga as well as Fui's serious illness and hospitalisation.

Having anywhere between 8 and 13 players missing until about May meaning we needed a string of loan signings just to put out 17 players on match day.

Emmitt walking out suddenly to go to 'Australia' and things not working out with Pala.

Constant rumours of half our team buggering off to Canada at the end of the year.

Having that spell without Hock, Higham and Acton and coming through it in style.

So whilst top spot may have been no more than people predicted he has had a hell of a lot to deal with and has overcome every obstacle thrown at him so far. Not sure what more he realistically could have achieved at this stage of the season.

He should definitely be in contention for the award for sure. He has done a brilliant job in his 1st season as a head coach and hopefully will keep that going into the 8's unlike Mr Morals did last season.

Jukes

I bet most coaches in the division would give their right arm to have to contend with some of the 'problems' that Jukes has had to contend with. I will say again you could pick any coach and go as far as simply turning up on a Sunday to coach and still get Leigh to finish top with the quality they have. A nice achievement but its not really an unexpected one. Now Batley on a budget of probably less than 300K if they managed to finish in the top 4 would be quite some achievement. Any part time club finishing above a full time club I would say is probably better than what Jukes has achieved given the resources. Take Marshall even with a slightly improved playing budget to be above the Bulls at this point in the season is much more of a miracle and thats even considering how average most Fax fans think our season has been.

Going FT is not straight forward as Sheffield found out. Batley will finish 5/6th, Fax drew 2nd highest central funding and will not finish second as Bradford who drew the highest will not come first. Leigh drew fourth and have come top.

Jukes has done a fantastic job to be thrown in at the deep end 2 weeks before the season started, to contend with a massive list of injuries, constant attempts to poach our players and unsettle our team. With a team of difficult players who hadn't steeled at their previous club. To have to recruit so many players mid season and integrate them into the team. To manage it all with 1 defeat & 1 draw winning the league with 2 games to spare and coming to the key stage of the season with many players coming back from injury is a phenomenal achievement for any coach, & I doubt many would have managed it as well, let a lone one in his first season as head coach who had no idea that's what he'd be doing 2 weeks before the season began.

However saying that if Kear can get Batley from avoiding relegation on the last day of the season last year into the Qualifier Super 8 this year you can't really look beyond that.

Didn't Richard Marshall get it last year, having taken Halifax from 3rd to 4th, under his guidance?

Rarely have I seen so much rubbish written on one thread.

The knives were out for Leigh before a ball was kicked and even more after the defeat at Batley.

Batley have done well - but have scraped through so many games they have almost a negative points difference. Leigh have won the leaders shield for the third season running. A coach given a job 10 days before the start of the season having never held a full time coaching position. Having all the adversity mentioned already and winning with two games to spare and a massive points difference.

Managing a team of talented players is not easy - ask Jimmy Lowes.

We all know that the award will not come to this side of the Pennines (as it should have last year) but on merit Jukesy all day long.

It isn't rubbish, it is having an opinion. When a question like this one is asked, the fact that it is on a Leigh forum doesn't mean we have to give the home answer. I bet you put 13 Leigh players in the Championship team of the year.

Is this Jukes first season as a head coach? If so, he's gotta take it for mine

The Bulls have been poor for the majority of the season. Bulls fans have stated this, so finishing above them IF it happens wouldn' t be too much of an achievement. Sorry!!!

Give over a weeks prep you are talking like he came in as an outsider hed had all pre season with them regardless of his position

Ha I just joined in to send a fishing rod out there! To be fair he has done very well and would be on the shortlist especially with everything surrounding that happened early doors. To be fair hes got rid of a couple of bad eggs and seems to be getting that a bit of the togetherness that Leigh had a couple of years ago before Derek starting throwing his money about at big names. I personally think you had a better TEAM under rowley before signing the the likes of Hock, Chase etc, not necessarily better players but better as a team. I dont think your side now would get as close to an in form and table topping Leeds than you did in the cup 2 years ago

Possibly not, but there again, Leeds aren't exactly 'table topping' these days, eh?