We’ll show Leigh are Super choice

VOW AS HEARTLAND CLUB WIN VOTE

Leigh Centurions have plenty to celebrate as a return to the big time awaits

LEIGH CENTURIONS owner Derek Beaumont says Super League is not retracting by choosing them to replace Toronto Wolfpack next year.

The Centurions were yesterday named as the competition’s 12th club ub for 2021 after an n application process s that also involved Toulouse, London, York, Bradford and d Featherstone.

The decision attracted cted criticism from fans who see it as an end to expansion of the game in the northern hemisphere following Toronto’s dramatic demise this year.

But Beaumont, who was a director in Leigh’s first season in Super League in 2005 and owner for their second 12 years later, is convinced his club can bring worth to the league.

Beaumont said: “People talk about, ‘ What value do you add?’ We averaged more than 6,500 and took on average 1,042 to away games in 2017 and those fans spent money. We beat Warrington, St Helens,

Wigan and Hull, so we added value and have a great facility. “I’m for growing the game but we we’ve ve got to do it right and if the fans are in the heartlands, that’s w where they’re at. “We’ve got to build t the game up from the b bottom, as Newcastle a are doing – that will the then have longevity. “A All this going to Canada – that needs to start there itself and grow there, then interact with us. It doesn’t work any other way.” Beaumont, above, that former Super thought League champions Bradford would be in pole position for the vacant spot after reading the criteria.

But Lord Jonathan Caine, who chaired the seven- person independent panel that made the decision, said Leigh was the unanimous choice.

The club have three months to build a competitive squad ahead of the March 11 restart date and must do so with about £ 500,000 less in central funding than the other 11 clubs.

Despite that, coach John Duffy is confident his team can avoid relegation.

He said: “I think we’ll stay up – we’ve got the right people at the club now and we know the areas we need to bring in.”