LEIGH have revealed why three key players missed Sunday's home win over York.

Forward trio Matt Nixon, Nick Jenkins and Neil Jukes were all dropped as disciplinary measures after stepping out of line.

But Leigh will not be making public the exact nature of the players' misdemeanours.

"The fans have a right to know that players who step out of line will be disciplined," said chairman Mick Higgins. "But we won't be washing our dirty linen in public.

"We don't regard the incidents as serious breaches of discipline, but the players must realise we're in a serious business and if they don't stick to the rules they will be punished. We now regard the matter as closed."

Aussie second rower Nixon and Leytonstone-born hooker Jenkins would have figured in Sunday's squad while loose-forward Jukes had his knuckles wrapped because of a separate incident the previous weekend.

Meanwhile, three more Leigh players have joined the growing band of ex-Hilton Park players with Prescot Panthers. Stand-off Mike Blakeley, second row Paul Marsh and prop Paul Kelly were all released by the Hilton Park club last week. Blakeley scored the Panthers' only try and goal in their 74-6 defeat at Rochdale on Sunday.

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