Neil Turley Explained

Neil Turley
Birth Date:15 March 1980[1]
Birth Place:England
Retired:yes
Club1:Leigh Centurions
Year1start:2000
Year1end:06
Appearances1:124
Tries1:132
Goals1:488
Fieldgoals1:15
Points1:1519
Teama:England U21s
Yearastart:2001
Appearancesa:2
Triesa:6
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:24
Teamb:Lancashire
Yearbstart:2001
Appearancesb:1
Triesb:1
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:4
Source:[2]
New:yes

Neil Turley (born 15 March 1980) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for England (Under-21s), and Lancashire, and at club level for Wigan Warriors (academy), and Leigh, as a goal-kicking, or .[2]

Early career

Neil started his career as a junior with Wigan Warriors, coming through their Academy set-up. As an Academy player he starred in the 1998 Academy Grand Final for Wigan in their defeat by Leeds Rhinos, who boasted such international stars as Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow.

His senior career was unlikely to prosper at Wigan as Turley played understudy to Great Britain Kris Radlinski. Turley took the offer in 2000 to join Second Division side Leigh Centurions.[3] Neil's father, Norman Turley, was Leigh's assistant coach. After an impressive debut in a friendly game against Australia's South Sydney Rabbitohs in late 2000, Turley was selected as Leigh's starting ahead of Simon Svabic.[4]

Debut season

His debut season as a senior player in 2001 saw Turley smash the world record for tries by a full back, ending the season with 55.[5] He was named as the Northern Ford Premiership player of the year,[6] and also gained representative honours, playing in both England under-21 Tests against South Africa,[7] [8] and played for Lancashire as the only player from a non-Super League club to play in the Origin series against rivals Yorkshire. His debut season featured a surprising Challenge Cup victory over Super League neighbours Salford City Reds, and saw Leigh finish nine points clear at the top of the Northern Ford Premiership and claim the short-lived Trans-Pennine Cup. Turley was the target of Warrington Wolves who tabled an offer to the Leigh club but Turley turned it down. However, the fantastic year was marred as defeat by Oldham in the play-off semi-final eventually saw the Widnes Vikings go onto win the Grand Final, and a place in the Super League.

Records

Turley broke many club records, including goals in a season and points in a season.[9] [10] Yet the ultimate prize, Grand Final success, eluded Leigh. In 2002 and 2003, the relegated Super League sides, Huddersfield Giants and Salford City Reds remained fully professional teams. Thus, their full-time fitness and coaching led to defeat in successive Grand Finals for Leigh. When Halifax were relegated to play in the 2004 National League competition, their financial troubles meant they were unable to retain a full-time team and struggled, paving the way for Leigh to go about achieving their dream. Leigh defeated Whitehaven 32-16 after over-time to finally attain Super League status for 2005's Super League X.

Retirement

Turley announced his retirement in April 2006, due to a serious recurring back injury. He made 122 appearances for Leigh, scoring 1,501 points, including 132 tries.[11]

Career Statistics

ClubSeason
LeagueAppsTriesGoalsField GoalsPoints
align=left Leigh Centurions2001align=left Northern Ford Premiershipalign=right 31align=right 55align=right 12align=right 0align=right 244
align=left Leigh Centurions2002align=left Northern Ford Premiershipalign=right 32align=right 29align=right 155align=right 0align=right 426
align=left Leigh Centurions2003align=left National League Onealign=right 22align=right 19align=right 123align=right 4align=right 326
align=left Leigh Centurions2004align=left National League Onealign=right 29align=right 26align=right 177align=right 10align=right 468
align=left Leigh Centurions2005align=left Super League Xalign=right 10align=right 3align=right 20align=right 1align=right 53

Notes and References

  1. Web site: England Under 21 Squad to tour South Africa. The Rugby Football League. 4 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20020302124055/http://rfl.uk.com/news/news_details.asp?Id=1334. 2 March 2002. 23 October 2001.
  2. Web site: Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org. rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. 1 January 2018.
  3. http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/06/03/30/manual_085136.html, Sporting Life, TURLEY QUITS DUE TO INJURY, Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  4. Web site: Whalley. John. Turley seizes opportunity to set scoring standards. Telegraph. 4 January 2015. 7 February 2001.
  5. Web site: All over for Neil. Leigh Reporter. 7 April 2006. 15 September 2010.
  6. Web site: Turley and Terzis scoop top awards . Lancashire Telegraph . 11 June 2024 . 27 July 2001.
  7. Web site: Turley Spearheads Young Guns' Rout. Leighrl.com. 4 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20011201182153/http://www.leighrl.com/News/News11112001.htm. 1 December 2001.
  8. Web site: Parkinson. Dave. Turley scores again as GB U-21s run up another point haul. Leighrl.com. 4 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20011216205949/http://www.leighrl.com/News/News181122001.htm. 16 December 2001.
  9. http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/rugbyleaguediv1/leigh.php, napit, Leigh Centurions RLFC All Time Records, Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  10. http://www.leighcenturions.com/page.php?id=585, Leigh Centurions, Club History Landmarks - Recent History, 2003, Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  11. Web site: Leigh ace Turley forced to retire. BBC Sport. 4 January 2015. 30 March 2006.

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