JAMES Bell’s ambition to play in Super League is close to realisation even if it has been a long and rocky road to get there.

Leigh’s Kiwi forward, his partner Ariana and their toddler son Manaia are currently self-isolating in the town after arriving from New Zealand last Friday.

Bell, who kicked off 2020 in fine style for previous club Toulouse, had by now expected to be a Toronto Wolfpack player.

Instead, those plans changed for the 26-year-old back rower when the Canadian club imploded.

Fortunately for Bell and Centurions, the Scottish international’s friendship with Leigh head coach, John Duffy, ensured a career lifeline.

“I have a good relationship with Duffs because we are pretty close through our Scotland ties,” said Bell, qualifying for the Bravehearts through his Aberdeen born grandfather, also named James Bell.

“It had been at the back of my mind to get over here and play under him at some stage.

“We started talking when Toronto went under and I was lucky he wanted to sign me.”

The extra bonus for Bell and the team mates he has yet to meet arrived on December 14 when Leigh were chosen as Toronto’s replacements in Super League for 2021.

“It was about 1am in New Zealand when the news came through and we had waited up to hear it,” he explained. “I couldn’t believe my luck.

“The opportunity to play in Super League is huge. I have wanted to get on the main stage and test myself against some of the best

“I know tons of boys all throughout the competition and they have been doing well.”

After the 2020 Championship season shut down last March, Bell returned to Auckland and a country where coronavirus has not wreaked the havoc it has done in the rest of the world.

“It has been concerning with how Covid is here especially because my partner is pregnant again. But in terms of the football opportunity, I could not pass it over.

“We are stuck in the house at the moment and I’m yet to meet up with the boys. But we are settling in okay and it is good to finally get over here.”

Bell, known for his defensive attributes and ball handling ability, has kept in trim by training with his one-time junior club, the Papakura Sea Eagles. Now, he’s itching to get started with Leigh.

However, Bell and Duffy’s squad will have to wait a little longer for their Super League bow. The season won’t now start until March 25 at the earliest, that is two weeks later than originally hoped and a discussion on fixtures will take place on Friday.

And that would be a year and nearly two weeks since Leigh’s last game-a Challenge Cup defeat at Hull KR on March 15, 2020.