A happy birthday for Simon

An off-season signing from Salford, Svabic, 21 yesterday, has enjoyed a sparkling start to his career with his home-town club.

The goal-kicking former Oldham stand off has slotted straight into the Centurions team so well that he has more than helped compensate for the loss of Mick Higham, Stuart Donlan and Heath Cruckshank.

Such has been his impact that Svabic stormed to the title of ‘Northern Ford Premiership Player of the Month’ for December in the official monthly player rankings that are issued in conjunction with ‘Rugby League World.’ Centurions’ coach Paul Terzis is delighted with the contribution Svabic made during the opening weeks of the campaign.

“Simon has been outstanding for us,” Terzis confirms. “He is a player we looked to bring to the club last season, but at that stage Salford weren’t prepared to release him. But we pursued him again in the off- season, and he was keen to join. He is a local lad, and bringing players from the town to the club has been a priority for us.

“Simon has great vision and an excellent all-round kicking game from general in-field kicking to point scoring. He has excellent footwork and he is also defensively very sound.

“At first we were contemplating playing him at fullback, but we had an injury to one of our pivot players. That gave him an opportunity to play at stand off and it was an opportunity he wanted. He’s grabbed it with both hands.”

There are two other Leigh players in the ‘Team of the Month’: David Bradbury, who has successfully switched from the back to front row, and fullback Neil Turley.