Leigh Centurions coach Paul Rowley has suggested that his side are a "broken team" after their final-day defeat by Widnes Vikings this afternoon.

The Vikings scored nine tries to overcome Rowley's side 50-8 in their final Super League Super 8s Qualifiers fixture of the season, and the former England hooker believes that his team gave up at the Stobart Stadium.

"We are a very broken team and have been for a few weeks," Rowley is quoted by the Leigh Reporter as saying. "We bombed several clear-cut chances and then topped it off by showing how poor we can get in the middle eights. The white towel came in and that is really disappointing.

"We lost only two games in the Championship and are still the only side in the division to win any silverware. But it's like I've been to the cinema to see a really good film and watched a very poor ending.

"Perhaps we should try and reprogramme for next year and finish second or third instead of top and come into the middle eights a bit fresher. It is tough to take finishing fourth of the four championship sides in the middle eights and that is cruel."

Leigh's only victory of the Super 8s series came in a 52-16 win over Sheffield Eagles on Sunday, September 6.