Nene Macdonald became the fifth Leigh Centurions player of the summer era to score a hat-trick on his debut for the Club in last Sunday’s 50-4 win over Whitehaven.
Macdonald has made a habit of making try-scoring debuts over his career so far.
He scored on his NRL debut for Sydney Roosters in their 32-12 win over Canterbury at Stadium Australia in 2014.
On debut for North Queensland Cowboys in 2019 and Cronulla Sharks in 2020, he scored a try on each occasion.
And in the 2013 World Cup, he marked his first appearance for Papua New Guinea with a try against France at Craven Park, Hull.
Stuart Donlan (HN#1117) scored three tries from the wing in his first Leigh appearance in a 68-10 Challenge Cup victory over Wigan St Patrick’s at Hilton Park in January 1997 at the start of the second season since the professional game made the summer switch.
Ten years later fullback Miles Greenwood (HN#1273) scored a hat-trick on debut in a Northern Rail Cup-tie at London Skolars as the Centurions ran out 52-8 winners in the Capital.
Nathan McAvoy (HN#1293) marked his first Centurions start with three tries from the wing as Leigh ran out 38-20 winners over Barrow in a Northern Rail Cup tie during the last season at Hilton Park in 2008.
The all-time club record for most tries on debut was established by winger Jim Humble (HN#688) who scored four tries on his first appearance in a Leigh jersey from the wing in a 37-4 home win against Dewsbury in January 1960.
Scrum-half Bob Beardmore (HN#999) equalled Humble’s feat by scoring four tries on debut in a 42-16 home win over Barrow in September 1989.
In the first senior game at Leigh Sports Village in February 2009, the Centurions defeated London Skolars 74-6 in the Northern Rail Cup, hooker Jamie Durbin (HN#1315) scoring three tries on debut.
Nene Macdonald (HN#1524) is sponsored by PPS Design & Build Ltd.
