LEIGH stand-off Kieron Purtill is out of the bid for Grand Final glory. He suffered a fractured jaw in an accidental clash of heads with Howard Hill during Sunday's crucial win over Swinton and will miss the play-offs.

The game was held up for six minutes while paramedics fitted a neck brace and carried Purtill off to hospital.

"It's a massive blow," admitted coach Ian Millward. "Kieron has been one of our most dependable players all season."

But scrum-half and club skipper Craig Dean is back and ready to lead the charge through the final phase of the season.

Dean made a shock return on Sunday five months after undergoing an ankle reconstruction operation.

"It was a bit of a gamble," said Millward. "But all the medical staff were happy with his fitness and I was happy with the way he has trained for the past month. It's a huge bonus having him back in the side."

Millward was also delighted to have tied up the deal that keeps back rower Heath Cruickshank at Hilton Park for another season.

The Aussie signed a one-year extension to his contract on Sunday.

He was one of six absentees for the Swinton match, but Millward is hopeful Cruickshank, Jamie Kennedy and Anthony Murray will all be back for the sudden death play-off tie against Featherstone on Sunday.

John Elias, the tough Aussie back rower who played with Leigh in the early 90s, has been diagnosed as having stomach cancer.

Doctors only give him a 50-50 chance of survival.

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