Completely new squad for Centurions (From Leigh Journal)

Completely new squad for Centurions

3:08pm Thursday 24th November 2011 in Centurions

LEIGH Centurions’ 2012 squad is now 16 players strong after more signings were confirmed this week.

Young half back Ryan Brierley joined the club from Castleford Tigers on a 12 months’ loan, while back rower Chris Gerrard is also on board after being released by Widnes Vikings.

They join fellow new recruits Tommy Gallagher (Swinton), Bob Beswick (Halifax), Gregg McNally (Huddersfield) and Matt Gardner (Widnes), along with Steve Maden, Dean McGilvray, Martyn Ridyard, James Taylor, Tommy Goulden, Craig Briscoe, Stuart Littler, Anthony Nicholson, Ricky Bibey and Ricky Murphy from last season’s squad.

Centurions would have had 17 returning for pre-season training, but Andy Bracek will no longer be signing as the club had expected.

The club announced on November 12 that Wales’ former Leigh Miners Rangers amateur Bracek had ‘penned a deal’ but Centurions issued another statement at the weekend that revealed: “Sadly, Andy Bracek will now not be joining the club after talks broke down on the day he was due to ratify the verbal agreement the club had with his agent.”

Bracek (pictured inset) said on Twitter: “I’ve not signed for Leigh. I would’ve loved to play for my hometown club but it was not to be.”

Brierley, a goal-kicking stand off or scrum half, arrives at the club after starring for the Castleford under 18s and under 20s sides in recent seasons.

The 19-year-old former Westhoughton Lions junior player has spent 18 months training with the top squad at Castleford.

He said: “Hopefully the Leigh fans will be impressed. I can’t wait to rip in.”

Fellow newcomer Gerrard, aged 22, is a former Wigan St Judes amateur who was snapped up by Wigan.

He worked his way through to the reserves before joining Widnes, where he became a first-team regular but was released after Vikings were granted Super League status.

Gerrard scored one try in nine appearances during 2011 and nine tries in 28 games in 2010, including one in Widnes’ Northern Rail Cup Final defeat to Batley.

A short playing spell with Whitehaven yielded three appearances in 2011.

Meanwhile, Leigh’s Touchdown Club has made an encouraging start.

The incentified season ticket scheme, aimed at providing regular income to the club, provides members with added extras such as a monthly draw and texted team sheets.

Touchdown Club is the brainchild of several sponsors of the Centurions, with initial interest leading to around 50 now being signed up to gold, silver and bronze packages. Further details on Touchdown Club are available from the ticket office or by email to: Touchdown@LeighRL.co.uk.