NEIL Turley has put himself in the reckoning for full international honours after a dream debut for Lancashire in Tuesday's Origin game against Yorkshire.

Leigh Centurions' boom full-back played a starring role as a first half substitute as the Red Rose county overturned an 18-6 deficit to beat Yorkshire 36-24 at Headingley.

Playing on the wing as a replacement for the injured Dom Peters, Turley set up Kris Radlinski for a try with his first touch and finished off an 11-man Lancashire move with a wonderfully taken try with his second.

As the only player from outside Super League in either team, Turley did himself and the NFP proud and earned glowing praise afterwards from people who matter.

Great Britain coach David Waite said: "Some players put their hands up and emerged in my mind as possible future internationals."

Lancashire skipper Andy Farrell was more direct saying: "Neil handled the step up in class fantastically. He set up a try with his first touch, scored with his second and was beating people all over the place. He proved tonight that he can handle games like this."

With England due to play Wales in the summer, Turley could get the chance to stake a claim for a place in the Great Britain Ashes squad against the Australians in the autumn.

His try against Yorkshire was the 46th of an astonishing season for the 21-year-old and will again have alerted more admirers. Luckily for Leigh he has just signed a new two-year contract that will keep him at Hilton Park until 2003.

One of those admirers is ambitious rugby union club Sale who have denied trying to lure Turley to switch codes with the offer of a big-money contract.

Rumours that Turley was the target of a £240,000, four-year deal have been strongly refuted by Sale chief executive Peter Deakin.

While Deakin admits that his club are admirers of Turley, he says Sale will not be asking him to follow Jason Robinson to Heywood Road.

"There has been no offer from us, nor will there be one," says Deakin.

Centurions' chairman Mike Nolan has also denied any contact with Sale.

"The ink hasn't dried on the two-year contract he's just signed with us. They're not a bad judge of a player, but we've had no contact at all with them.

"It's very flattering for the lad and I'm sure others will be asking about him. The way he's played this year means he's bound to attract interest, but he's very happy here at Leigh.

"Neil will eventually play on the big stage, but we expect that to be with Leigh.