SUNDAY’S Grand Final will be the culmination of 15 months’ hard work, according to Leigh Centurions boss Paul Rowley.

Ten years on from their last appearance in the final, Centurions visit Headingley Carnegie, Leeds to face Featherstone Rovers in the Kingstone Press Championship decider, kick off 7pm.

But Rowley has backed the role Centurions’ head of rugby Derek Beaumont played in the club’s transformation.

“When you think back to that game against Batley, when players hadn’t been paid; Derek Beaumont stepped up and paid the players wages,” said head coach Rowley.

“That got us through to the end of that month and he then assembled a board of people to help him take this club forward.

“He saw a vision and this season that vision has come to fruition. It is days like these, playing on the last day of the season for the final piece of silverware available, that the Championship has to offer.

“It is the belief of one bloke and the support of the people that he drafted in – it all culminates in this.”

For once, the form book will refer to type on Sunday, with top facing second in the division’s showpiece encounter.

“This is it,” added Rowley. “You don’t need to start worrying about what is round the corner.

“Everyone who is fit and selected will play one last game and then the season is done. We don’t need to motivate anyone.

“It’s gone with the two most consistent sides, which is always good to see, and it’s two well supported clubs as well, which means the atmosphere is going to be good.

“It’s a bit of a late kick-off but I’m sure that just for one day the fans are going to come out and make the most of it.

“We often get the chance to showcase our club and this is another one of those occasions.

“Nothing will spoil the day for those players, the fans and everybody involved.”

The Grand Final brings an end to a productive week for the club that saw eight players named in the Championship All-Star team.

The team, selected by coaches in the Kingstone Press Championship is as follows: Miles Greenwood (Batley Bulldogs), Will Sharp (Featherstone Rovers), Shane Grady (Dewsbury Rams), Tom Armstrong (Leigh Centurions), Liam Kay (Leigh Centurions), Martyn Ridyard (Leigh Centurions), Ryan Brierley (Leigh Centurions), Jacob Emmett (Leigh Centurions), Bob Beswick (Leigh Centurions), Carl Forster (Whitehaven), Brett Phillips (Workington Town), Matt Sarsfield (Leigh Centurions), Sam Barlow (Leigh Centurions).

At the awards night in Manchester on Tuesday the club was named Community Club of the Year and Club of the Year, with Martyn Ridyard winning the Championship Player of the Year award following an 80% season with goal-kicking and 38 try assists.

The award comes six years after Ridyard won BARLA Player of the Year in the season before he joined Leigh.

It was another successful night for half-back partner Ryan Brierley. The 42-try, 32-try assist man was named Championship Young Player of the Year, although surprisingly Rowley was overlooked for coach of the year with Doncaster's Paul Cooke taking that award.

“The league table doesn’t lie. We’ve been consistent and dominant in the 2014 campaign,” Rowley said.

“We are not thriving on picking up individual accolades or honours and that’s probably been the strength of the team.

“Everyone recognises and takes equal satisfaction out of seeing their teammates do well. We really do share the good times and the not so good.

“No-one is getting carried away and we will always remain humble. I’ve got some wonderful memories of 2014 and hopefully we can make another one at the weekend.”