“NO excuses,” says head coach John Duffy after his Leigh squad knuckled down to pre-season training.

Denied the benefit of a full training schedule for last season’s Betfred Championship campaign, Duffy now has the luxury of three months to prime his team for its 2020 kick-off.

He’s determined his side will hit the ground running when Centurions launch their bid for promotion to Super League.

And the wait is over for fans on Sunday when the Rugby Football League officially releases the new 2020 fixtures at 3pm.

“Last year, we probably had to over-coach with the squad we had, fitting it together in the couple of weeks we had in December,” said Duffy.

“So, it has been good to have nearly everyone here for the start of pre-season. Anyone who needed surgery had it done pre-season so we are very healthy at the minute.

“We have got about 12 weeks to go at this year-a full pre-season- so no excuses.”

Leigh kicked-off 2019 with games against Toulouse, Halifax, Featherstone, Toronto and York; four of those going on to occupy places in the end of season top five.

“We are not bothered by who we have to play,” added Duffy. “We have got to be relentless if we want to have a good dig at the league.

“Last year, we were perhaps a little too bothered by our opponents in some games.

“We are not fussed this time and have got to concentrate on us to make sure we are the best we can every week.”

Duffy is looking to build a squad of 25 players and says: “We are near enough there now. We are in a good place.

“There are a few more to come in. There are some exciting names and hopefully we can get to a point where the lads are here and the club can release who they are.”

The squad returned to medical screening and gym testing last week and is now back into full training.

“I am really happy with the squad so far,” he confirmed “We have got lots of quality and so we can change the way we coach a little bit.”

After last week’s flurry of player signings it has been much quieter at Leigh Sports Village.

Irish international Gregg McNally, back from duty with the Wolfhounds, has still to re-sign but Duffy says: “Hopefully, something can get sorted soon.”