LEIGH Centurion’s hopes of becoming a Super League club for 2017 took a significant step in the right direction this week.

At the time of going to press, the Centurions were preparing to announce the first of two significant new signings.

And maverick former Man of Steel, Rangi Chase, has been top of Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont’s pre-Christmas shopping list for a number of months.

Such a move for the former Salford and Castleford star became possible after RL bosses allowed Championship clubs to spend more than last season’s £1 million salary cap. Sides now have availability to splash out an extra £300,000 providing guarantees are put in place.

Chase has been a long-standing target though there were fears a deal couldn’t be struck due to salary cap issues. However, that barrier has now been removed.

Beaumont had previously made funds available to sign Chase’s former Salford team mates, Harrison Hansen, Cory Paterson and Reni Maitua plus Dayne Weston from the NRL.

Meanwhile, another former Salford star, Gareth Hock, is back in the spotlight with the publication of a new book about the life of Leigh’s controversial and colourful former England international.

‘Hock-the Real Me’ is available from Friday and likely to ruffle more than a few feathers within the game.

The ex Wigan Warriors favourite has started training for what will be his first full season with Paul Rowley’s Championship outfit.

And he has done so not regretting his decision to leave Super League behind with Salford for what has turned out to be a longer stint in the game’s second tier than expected.

“I have no doubt that joining Leigh is one of the best decisions I have ever made,” says the 32-year-old Centurions favourite.

Hock’s debut was delayed while serving a six-game ban carried over from the unhappy end to his Red Devils career.

“That wasn’t easy and a challenge in itself,” Hock reveals in his latest life story. “It was a challenge in itself, but I got there.

“When you are sidelined for a long period of time, it is frustrating. I hate watching games. I have to be out there with my mates in the heat of battle.”

There were more problems when Leigh drew Salford in the Challenge Cup. “Salford said that an agreement had been reached which prevented me from playing against them for a year,” he explains.

“Derek Beaumont, the Leigh chairman, was adamant I would play and I did. A lot of people saw it as a pointer to how the Championship clubs would go against top-flight opposition in the new so-called Super 8s at the end of the season.

“And don’t think we had lost our marbles, but the plan was for us, ‘Little Leigh’, to be the first club outside Super League to reach Wembley and play in a Challenge Cup final.”

n To win a copy of the book answer the following question: Gareth Hock has played in Super League for three clubs, Wigan, Salford and which other? Send your answers to: Gareth Hock Competition co/ Lisa Schofield, The Bolton News, The Wellsprings, Bolton. Closing Date is December 2. Usual Newsquest terms and conditions apply. See online

Hock – The Real Me’ is published on November 27 by Scratching Shed Publishing, priced at £9.99. It is available from scratchingshedpublishing.com, all good bookshops either in stock or to order and Amazon.