Clare: Leigh can win silverware in 2017

Leigh winger James Clare believes Leigh have what it takes to win some silverware in 2017.

Leigh’s last trophy was the Kingstone Press Championship, which they have held for the past three seasons.

“I want to win something and I don’t see why Leigh can’t do that,” Clare said.

“Like I said with the Challenge Cup we’ve had some great runs in that and I think we’re definitely going to be up there so we’re going to knock a few teams off.”

Clare, who joined the Centurions from Bradford last month, is relishing the prospect of showcasing what he has to offer in Super League this season.

The 25-year old has spent time in the top flight before when he was at Castleford but now he is several years older.

“I’ve played a little bit of Super League at Castleford Tigers first time round but I was a lot younger then,” he told Love Rugby League.

“I feel like now I’ve come back to Super League a much more mature player.”

Clare admitted it will be a big challenge to nail down a regular place in the starting 13 with the players already at the club.

“You’ve got Adam Higson who is a very experienced player and played at a higher level for a long time,” he said.

“Then there is Matty Dawson on the other wing that’s played in a St Helens team which has been there or thereabouts for a number of years so it’s very tough.”

Leigh head coach Neil Jukes has never managed in Super League before, but Clare thinks there are more than enough senior players to help adapt to life in the top-flight.

Jukes was promoted from the role of assistant after his former boss Paul Rowley resigned 10 days before the start of last season.

“You talk about Jukesy maybe being a slightly inexperienced coach but we’ve got some very experienced professionals in Micky Higham and Gaz Hocks and people like that,” Clare said.

“Everybody buys into what they’re doing and we kind of follow their lead.”