A BOY who beat life-threatening cancer will have a 'dream come true' on Friday night when he carries the ball on to the pitch for his beloved Leigh Centurions' first home game since returning to the Super League elite.

Five-year-old Riley Agent has been chosen for the honour by Derek Beaumont after his 'inspiring story about a child that wins through' made the hairs on the Centurions owner's 'neck stand up'.

Riley, from Leigh, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma stage 4S at just 10 days old in November 2011 after he was taken to hospital with a swollen stomach and doctors discovered a tumour on his liver.

The discovery ultimately saved his life, as further tests revealed the neuroblastoma, a tumour which forms on the adrenal gland and is often undetected until it is too large to treat.

Following years of extensive treatment, Riley was told just before his fifth birthday that doctors are confident his cancer will not return.

He is 'rugby mad' and is excited about not only carrying the ball on to the centre of the pitch for the televised game against Leeds but watching his first match live at the Leigh Sports Village.

His mum Pam said: “We couldn’t believe it when the Centurions said he could carry the ball onto the pitch. It is such an honour.

"He is a bit nervous but mainly excited. He is going to love it on the day.

“He is rugby mad, so this is a real dream come true.

“We have followed the Centurions for years. It was great when they got promoted.

"He loves watching them with his granddad but he has never seen them play at Leigh Sports Village."

Pam works for Leigh-based Astley Hire, which is sponsoring the ball for the landmark clash.

Mr Beamont heard about Riley's survival story through Astley Hire.

He said: “Hearing about Riley made the hairs on my neck stand up.

It was a refreshing change to hear such an inspiring story about a child that wins through.

“We are delighted to give this fine young man the proud moment and experience of carrying the ball to the centre circle to mark our first home game live on Sky Sports."

Pam, who trains Astley Hire clients on how to put up scaffolding and will be attending Friday's game with Riley and his granddad Phil, admits that the five-year-old's cancer battle was a traumatic experience for the whole family.

The 37-year-old said: “It was horrendous.

“We went for a normal midwife check-up. They noticed his tummy had swelled up and we were sent to a hospital in Warrington for tests.

“I was expecting them to say he had a bit of wind, but they found the tumour on his liver and that led to them finding the neuroblastoma.

“We were really lucky because if he didn't have the liver tumour they might not have found the neuroblastoma until it was too late.

"If they had found it at a later stage this could have been a very different story.

“It is all a bit of a blur now, but at the time you just go on autopilot.

"There were times when I really thought I would lose him.

“He spent his first Christmas in the oncology department at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool and then he had to go back for more chemotherapy the following year.

“There were times during the treatment when I thought his stomach would pop as it was so swollen with all the fluid they were putting into him.

"I am so grateful for everything everyone in the NHS did to save him. Riley would not be here today if it wasn’t for them.

“He is still under the care of his consultant at the oncology unit at Alder Hey.

“He still has the tumour on the adrenal gland but thankfully it has calcified and they consider it no longer a threat.

"We have to have regular scans and checks to make sure there is no further growth and it has not spread to his blood or bones.”

Her boss Stephen Dorricott, managing director at Astley Hire, said: “We are ever so grateful to at the team at Leigh Centurions for giving Riley this opportunity.

“Pam is a highly valued member of staff here at Astley Hire and we are delighted she will get the chance to see her little boy performing this honour.

“A few of us will be there on Friday at the game and we will all be cheering the Centurions on.”