ADRIAN Lam will wait until the New Year before confirming his captain for Leigh’s 2022 Betfred Championship campaign.

Liam Hood wore the armband last season with Tyrone McCarthy and Joe Mellor, his deputies.

Hood has since joined Wakefield leaving a vacancy to skipper Lam’s new look squad in its quest for promotion to Super League.

“I will have a leadership group but within that I will have one captain, potentially two,” confirmed Centurions’ head coach.

“It is important who that person is because he sets the standard for the rest of the group.

“There are a few standing out but I will make that decision closer to the start of the season. I hope we can get a camp together early next year when we will look to confirm the captain.”

With their squad still to be completed Centurions are also holding off confirming squad numbers though the 2022 playing kit has been unveiled.

Leigh have added NRL Grand Final and World Club Challenge winner, John Asiata to their squad.

Asiata, 28, played for Brisbane Broncos in 2021 but had signed a 12-month deal with Canterbury Bulldogs.

However, the prop or occasional half back left the Bulldogs for an apparent refusal to have a Covid-19 vaccination.

Writing on his Instagram page Asiata, twice the Cowboys’ club person of the year, said: “It has not been an easy time or decision, but it is one I have full peace with.

“If you know me you know I will always stay true to my convictions and values.

“One of those values is freedom of choice and bodily autonomy for my family and I.

“I love and respect anyone who has decided to take it out of their own free will, and I sympathise with anyone who has felt coerced and pressured to do it to keep food on the table for their families.”

Chester said of the recruit: “There were lots of clubs in the Super League and Championship chasing his signature so to persuade John that his future lay at Leigh was a real team effort.

“Adrian, Derek, me and our chairman all spoke to John and what sold the club above all else was what it does in the community and how the club is so family orientated.

“John is a really good fit for the club, one of the final pieces in the jigsaw.”

Leigh have been fined £7,500 - £4,000 suspended - following incidents of fan misbehaviour during Leigh’s defeat at Wigan on August 1.

A total of £4,000 has been suspended until the end of 2023.

The decision involves the fine being invested in a plan of action to improve supporter behaviour, through support of the RFL’s Tackle it and Enjoy the Game campaigns related to discrimination and supporter behaviour.

Speaking at a recent sponsors’ and fans’ evening owner Derek Beaumont said: “We will be announcing a community initiative to try and change that experience and mentality.

“We don’t want to take away the atmosphere, the camaraderie, the singing and the chanting and sterilising the game.

“But we want to move to where society is and how we respect referees and respect each other and to get a better environment.”