Bricklayer Josh Charnley aims to build Leigh’s Grand Final bid in play-offs

JOSH Charnley hopes to demolish the hopes of the club where it all started for him – while also building a future career.

For the Leigh winger can be found on-site when he is not training, even taking his ‘work’ gear into his day job.

Josh Charnley hopes to go one step closer to the Grand Final after Dream Team selection – while also working on a building siteSWPIX.COM

Had he not joined the Leopards, Charnley would be a full-time bricklayer after coming to the conclusion he would retire as he was so miserable at Warrington.

Now even though he has regained his love for the sport and earned a place in Super League’s Dream Team for the first time in 10 years after scoring 26 tries, he still has the hands of hod.

“At the moment, I’m working on a couple of schools and a house extension near me in Chorley,” revealed Charnley.

“I’m learning different bits of the trade. I do all the laying and mortaring too – and they’re the same. I’m surrounded by a team both in rugby and construction, there’s banter and stress in both too.

“Even if I finish training at lunchtime, I’ll go straight to the site and check in and get stuff done. I have my bricklaying stuff in the back of the car!

“I was going to retire and step away from the game. I was set on retiring, getting the toolbox out and going to work.

“I was struggling mentally last year but being with this team has definitely helped me and having conversations with owner Derek Beaumont, coach Adrian Lam and those who know me like Sam Tomkins, who’ve been with me all these years, guided me.

“And I wanted to finish on my own terms. Some people don’t and I want to do that.”

Charnley, 32, and Leigh have laid the foundations of a great league campaign after winning the Challenge Cup for the first time in 52 years.

Now to add another course by dumping Hull KR, the team they defeated at Wembley, out after Rovers snatched fourth spot and a home tie on the final day of the regular season.

And if Charnley does it at Craven Park, he will not have to look far to find those who put him on the road to stardom after a 2010 loan spell started everything.

Charnley is reaping the rewards of a new mindset after joining LeighSWPIX.COM

He added: “It was for five weeks but was a big part of my journey. I’m very thankful to KR for giving me that opportunity.

“At the time, they had players like Clint Newton, Ben Galea and Michael Dobson, who showed me the way. They carefully guided me on what they wanted me to do.

“But we need to win to progress and our last result there – losing 52-10 – shouldn’t play on our minds, a lot of the boys were emotionally drained from the cup final.

“We’ve got to come away with the win. If not, we’re drowning our sorrows in beer.”