LEIGH are Super League bound at last and have invited the town to their promotion party at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday.

To celebrate the Centurions’ elevation to top flight status for the first time since 2005, the club is offering free admission to its final home game of the historic campaign against Batley Bulldogs.

That could see as many as 12,000 fans salute Neil Jukes’ all-conquering heroes including newly crowned Kingstone Press Championship player of the season, club skipper, Micky Higham.

The match also provides a chance for supporters to say farewell to players who won’t be taking the journey to Super League with Leigh; stars such as Reni Maitua, Tom Armstrong, Andrew Dixon, Travis Burns and Jonny Pownall.

Planning for 2017 has already started with Hull KR’s James Green among players believed to be heading to the club.

With overjoyed owner Derek Beaumont pledging to spend the full, newly acquired £1.7 salary cap, Leigh may also consider re-instating its reserve side, scrapped last October to focus on Super League promotion.

Yet there is still unfinished business with the Middle 8s, starting with Batley and wrapping up against 2015 treble winners, Leeds Rhinos.

“We have got to make sure we continue working hard in what we are doing,” says Jukes, pipped by Batley’s John Kear for coach of the year honours.

“We can play with less pressure but it is still crazy. Who would have said after five games it was going to de done?”

Local hero Martyn Ridyard, whose future appeared to lie elsewhere midway through the season, bagged 24 points in the 48-40 win over Huddersfield that finally clinched promotion.

“Before he signed his contract extension I said ‘Riddy’ could go on and achieve as many things as he wanted,” added Jukes.

“What he did was kick himself into shape on and off the field. That didn’t mean he was a bad person before.

“But if you ask him he will tell you he takes himself more seriously now and has grown with the team. ‘Riddy’ has been here a long time and he will retire at this club.

“He and Josh Drinkwater were electric. If we hadn’t nailed ‘Drinky’ the vultures would have been out for him because he was immense.”

Winger Matty Dawson was another hero against Huddersfield, scoring a hat-trick against the club for whom he made his Super League debut. In six games he has scored eight tries, justifying his and the club’s decision to join forces.

“I saw the ambition of this club and that’s why I joined,” he explained. “To get back in Super League at the first stab was what I wanted and I have achieved it.”

On his try scoring feats Dawson, who also notched seven in 16 appearances for St Helens, laughed:“I just do the good looking stuff on the outside.”

n Fans who have already purchased tickets for the Batley game can apply for a refund by presenting their ticket to the ticket office.

The refund does not apply to season ticket holders but they will be receiving a commemorative gift as a token of their understanding.

Leigh’s game at Leeds has been brought forward to Thursday, September 22.

At the time of going to press 8,000 tickets had been snapped up for the Batley game.