I’m one of Super League’s top try scorers.. but I also have completely different job on the side as I plot career change

JOSH CHARNLEY is laying the foundations for life after Super League – by working on a building site.

But the Leigh Leopards winger wants to cement his place as the competition’s top try scorer first.

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Charnley is looking to become the competition’s all time try scorer[/caption]

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Charnley is entering the building game[/caption]

Charnley, 32, went over in last weekend’s opening defeat by Huddersfield to take his tally to 231 – just 16 behind Danny McGuire’s 247.

But as he goes for the record he will still be working on building sites, which he does on his day off as he prepares for life after rugby league – currently a school in Blackburn and a house in Chorley.

He said: “And I’m trying to learn different parts of the building trade, as well as the business side of it all. It’s setting a platform for life after rugby, the building trade’s the one for me.

“It’s just like being at Leigh, we have structure and a plan. It’s much the same as rugby, just without getting battered for 80 minutes.”

Charnley is also helping his non-verbal son Axel, 5, and has dedicated the charity Autism Beaudon Understanding Kindness (ABUK) as one of the causes he will raise money for.

The winger added: “It is tough but every day’s different with Axel.

“He’s non-verbal, which is the hardest part. He’s progressing but he’s on a steady curve. He’s not taking a backward step, though, and his little wins are massive to us.

“If he says a new word or does a new thing, it’s a good win for the day.

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He spoke of how a career change will help his family life[/caption]

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“There’ll be certain noises he makes which I won’t know but my wife Zoe will understand. We learn every day with him but he gets better every day.

“He’ll speak but it’s on his own terms. His progression will be slower but every autistic child is different, every person is different. He’s learning in new environments every day, which is good for him and us.

“He’s starting to say more words now. It is tricky but as a family we’re so supportive of him and we’ve good people around us.

“And he’s fine at matches, noise doesn’t bother him.

“I’ve three charities associated with my testimonial – Derian House, a charity in Chorley, Joining Jack and ABUK.”

“Having my testimonial makes me feel a little bit old but I can look back at people’s testaments and what they say about me.

“I had Sam Tomkins, Kris Radlinski and Sam Powell at my first dinner. It was a special room that day – and no-one sold me down the river!”

Leigh’s impact on Super League last season after promotion extended beyond the stage that saw well-known bands perform as matches were turned into events.

A Challenge Cup win at Wembley ended a 52-year wait for that trophy and Adrian Lam guided his men to a play-off spot.

Charnley added: “The foundation’s already set. It’s just trying to finesse bits, which is what we’ve worked on in pre-season.

“We were a tight knit group and the new boys have really bought into the way we are.

“Everyone wrote us off last year – now we need to do better than 2023.People know what we’re about now, we need to work on us.”