WE are the champions!

Thousands of jubilant Leigh Centurions fans were dancing in the rain as the club finished the season top of the pile with a resounding win 66-10 against Doncaster.

Around 3,300 ecstatic supporters packed into Leigh Sports Village to celebrate as the team was presented with the League Leaders Shield — and many are confident they can now secure a place in the Super League.

Fan Ian Clarke, 70, from Leigh said: "This is the best chance we have had for a long while— they've surely already beaten Super League teams so we have a very very good chance."

Meanwhile Wayne Atherton, who used to play for the club in the 1980's, said: "I think with the way the lads are playing, they are up for it. It’s their best chance, they’ve been playing really well. They seem a lot bigger, a lot fitter and they just seem really up for it. I think we might surprise a few people."

The Centurions, who beat Dewsbury to officially win the league title last week, will now go into the 'middle eight' which contains the bottom four teams from Super League and the top four teams from the Championship which forms a league of eight.

The Mayor, Councillor Susan Loudon, is backing the lads and has commended the fans support.

She said:"I have religiously watched Leigh Centurion's home games for the last two years.

"I think the team have played so well and that has been reflected in the scoreboard- what you do not see on the score board is the "family" of players and supporters.

"The supporters are a fantastic group of people who have shared the highs and lows of the players and they are the best singers in the Rugby League!

"The success of the "family" reflects in the town and Leigh feels proud of where they live.

"I am proud to be a Leyther anytime but this year is proving to be one of the best!"

Meanwhile Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan Council, is a lifelong fan of the Centurions.

He said: "Many congratulations to Leigh Centurions for securing the Championship League title. The team has been in fantastic form all season and look every inch a Super League side. The players, Paul Rowley and his backroom staff deserve the highest of praise for the magnificent performances on the pitch all season and helping to put Leigh on the national stage.

“Now the big task is to gain Super League status and with our #BelieveinLeigh campaign Wigan Council is fully behind the pride of Leigh.”

Janet Callaghan was at the match with her daughters and grandchildren and said despite originally coming from London she is now a Leigh girl through and through. Mrs Callaghan, who lives in Atherton, added: "I think they’ve got a good chance of getting in to the Super League.

"My grandchildren are here, my daughters are here. We love it and we love Leigh. We just love it, we come in all weathers we go to all the away games and I think the lads can do it!"

Manager Paul Rowley was also praised by fans who said he had done a "terrific job".

Les West, 65, from Tyldesley said: "If we got into Super League it certainly does a lot for the town

"They have worked hard, but I think it will be a difficult step. Halifax will be the most difficult game to get past —they gave us a hard game early on in the season and they seem to have come good in the end so they are going to be one of the biggest.

"But I think anyone that comes to Leigh Sports Village are going to have a difficult game. The Leigh fans are terrific always get good support.

"Paul has done a terrific job and he has managed the game more so than just being a coach.

"He deserves a lot of credit and he’s a Leigh lad as well."

Tracey Barton, who is a member of rugby player Micky Higham's gym in Leigh, said: "I loved the game. I train with Micky four times a week at his gym so I am right behind him and the lads. We definitely have a chance of going up to Super League but we need the continued support.

"It's the best club ever and we are now starting to get recognition we deserve."