FORMER heavyweight boxer Cory Paterson is poised to add punch to Leigh's bid for Super League next year.

Despite the Centurions' failure to secure top flight rugby for 2016, the imposing 28-year-old Aussie forward will join Paul Rowley's revolution.

That's the belief of Paterson's current paymaster, Salford Red Devils owner, Dr Marwan Koukash.

And Leigh remain linked with Paterson's team-mates, Rangi Chase and Harrison Hansen, with all three being released as free agents.

Speaking this week, Koukash said: "Cory is under contract with us for next year.

"But he wants to go to Leigh and we're not going to stand in his way.

"We agreed to release him on the first of October, regardless of whether they (Leigh) are in Super League or not.

"We will honour that agreement and I hope he honours it as well. We are not interested in keeping him."

Former Man of Steel Chase – who has already played his last game for the Red Devils – and ex-Wigan favourite Hansen, both asked to quit the Barton outfit.

Leigh's end of season fate was confirmed by last Saturday's 32-16 defeat by Championship rivals Bradford at Leigh Sports Village.

With five defeats in six games, the League Leaders' Shield winners cannot now qualify for the million-pounds fourth versus fifth clash.

"The emotional baggage of winning the league took its toll on our players," says Rowley.

"The transition from part-time to full-time has been a difficult one.

"But players and staff have done remarkably well, the crowds have doubled from two or three years ago so we have got to keep our heads up.

"We wanted to get into Super League so we can't hide that disappointment. But we just want to get stronger and keep growing the business."

So, Sunday's game at Widnes will bring the curtain down on the campaign.

Vikings are not mathematically guaranteed an automatic Super League promotion spot. But assuming fourth-placed Wakefield beat bottom-of-the-table Sheffield at Bramall Lane, there would need to be a 121-points swing to deny Denis Betts' side third spot.

Winger Adam Higson and hooker Bob Beswick are available for the game, though both received formal cautions for incidents in the Bradford match.

Beswick was adjudged to have made dangerous contact with Matty Blythe while Higson was admonished for use of his knees on Ben Williams.

Vikings captain Kevin Brown, sent-off against Salford for punching Josh Griffin last Sunday, also escaped a ban.