Sheffield Eagles: Spedding to miss final league game

Sheffield Eagles will be without the services of dual-registration ace Jake Spedding as they head into the final game of the regular season against crisis-club Leigh Centurions.
Jake Spedding. Picture: Alex ColemanJake Spedding. Picture: Alex Coleman
Jake Spedding. Picture: Alex Coleman

Mark Aston’s side will still be underdogs going into the contest against a Leigh side who have been busy offloading some of their star names in a bid to avoid a potential financial crisis.

Leigh are one point off the top-four going into the final round of fixtures before the split, whilst any points for the Eagles will be an added bonus following back-to-back victories.

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The Eagles, who are also facing difficulties off the field, will be without the services of Spedding who has suffered with ankle issues this season.

“There are one or two bumps and bruises, but we are at the end of the season, it will happen,” Aston said of his squad.

“We just have to carry one or two of them and get on with it.

“Jake Spedding looks like he will be out for four to six weeks, possibly eight weeks, he might need an operation.

“We will be struggling to get him back now.

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“Who knows what we’ll get out of Saints this weekend, we’ll wait and see.

“No doubt it will be all hands on deck again this week, but there might be opportunities there for players to get a chance.

“We’ll just find a way to get through it, and then we have a welcome break before the Shield games.”

The Centurions are bracing themselves for departures after owner Derek Beaumont confirmed this week that the club were in financial difficulties.

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Harrison Hansen, Peter Mata’utia, Bodene Thompson, and Jordan Thompson have already left.

Aston though will be concentrating on his own side as he keeps a close eye on the fitness of Ben Blackmore who has been managing a long-standing knee problem in recent weeks.

The Eagles chief also confirmed that half-back Simon Brown is back within his group after his recent absence, but after not making the 17 for the victory over Barrow last Sunday, a recall for the experienced operator seems unlikely for now.

“Simon Brown is back in the environment. It is up to him now,” Aston added.

“He needs to get his head down and work hard.

“He has got the respect back of the others.

“He is back and he is training.”