Leigh Centurions will be a Betfred Super League club in 2021 following their successful bid to be included in next seasons competition.
The announcement was revealed live on Sky Sports on Monday afternoon after Centurions bid to ply their trade in Super League was accepted by an independent panel.
Centurions Chairman Mike Latham recognised the fantastic opportunity for the players, staff, and fans – on what was a huge day for everyone involved at the club – as they head back to Super League for the first time since 2017.
He said: “It’s hugely emotional for everyone involved at the club and for the whole town of Leigh, especially after the year we’ve had.
“We always had a feeling 2021 was going to be a really special year. It’s a huge opportunity for the club and a huge boost for the town,” He continued.
“It’s an opportunity we don’t intend to waste.”
Owner Derek Beaumont echoed his Chairman’s excitement and paid tribute to the meticulous efforts by his staff to put forward their successful bid. Now, they have an opportunity to mix it in Super League once again.
He stated: “I’m absolutely buzzing. We got a bit nervous over the last week or two.
“The first thing we have to do is back up what we’ve said in that document. The main thing was to put a show on, market the games and get people in here and make it a good spectacle.”
Alongside the off-field efforts, Beaumont insisted that their focus is to ensure the club enjoy some on-field success and remain a Super League club beyond the 2021 season.
“I met up with John [Duffy] to set a plan out [prior to the bid]. The first thing he said to me was that he doesn’t want to just get Leigh in Super League. He wants to be the coach that keeps Leigh in Super League.”
And Centurions head coach Duffy is confident that Leigh have the foundations in place to compete in Super League and become a regular feature in the competition for years to come.
He said: “It’s going to be a tough gig; we’ve known that all along.
“We’ve got the right people at the club now, especially in the staff. We’ve brought Super League staff in to get us ready. They know where the players need to be on and off the field,” He explained.
“Hopefully we can put in a good account of ourselves and keep the club up.”
A player who knows all about playing in Super League with the Centurions is Liam Hood – the hooker was part of the squad that last played in the competition back in 2017.
He said: “It’s nice for this to pay off and get back into Super League and have another shot at that.
“Super League has got stronger since 2017. It’s exciting for us to test ourselves against the best,” He stated.
“We’re going to go up and be confident. We’ve got a great team now and can go up and compete.
“People will expect us to go up and straight back down again. But we’ll rock up each week and aim to do a job.”
A town steeped in Rugby League history, the Centurions will be hoping to create a new legacy for the club and establish themselves as a top-flight team as they prepare to join Super League in 2021.