Higham: We can make the top eight

Leigh captain Micky Higham insists his side can make the top eight in their first season back in Super League.

The Centurions achieved promotion to Super League in impressive style, winning six of their seven matches in the Middle 8s.

Leigh were last in Super League in 2005.

“I think we’ve got to aim for that top eight,” Higham told Love Rugby League.

“The higher you can aim it keeps you spurring on.”

Higham has stressed how everyone is raring for the new season to get underway.

“We’re almost ready to get a game under our belts,” he said.

“It’s difficult when you’ve not got a match at the end of the week to show for all the hard work.

“We have got a few games in January which seems a bit of a while off.”

The experience 36-year old, who has had stints at St Helens, Wigan and Warrington, is fully aware of the challenge that is ahead for the Centurions.

“It’s going to be tough because some lads have not played Super League before,” he said.

“Some lads have come down from Super League for 12 months and gone back into it.”

Higham thinks the players that have come in will give the club a massive boost ahead of their first season in the top-flight for over a decade.

“Glenn Stewart has certainly stamped his authority and you can tell he has played at the highest level,” he said.

“Atelea Vea is a pretty quiet unassuming guy but you can see that he has got that explosiveness.”

Leigh have also brought in some up and coming players and the club now has a good mix of youth and experience, according to Higham.

“Ben Crook and Ryan Hampshire have still got all of their best years ahead of them,” he said.

“They are two quality players and they have been in good systems before in previous clubs.”

Super League rugby will be back in Leigh next year and Higham admits the town is filled with anticipation and excitement.

“There’s already a buzz around the town,” he said.

“Everybody’s been saying they can’t wait to go to Catalan.”

Head coach Neil Jukes has never coached in the top-flight before but Higham doesn’t think that will have a substantial effect on Leigh’s chances in Super League.

“I think he is looking forward to this challenge,” he said.

“He has got good backroom staff in Kieron Purtill, Paul Anderson and Paul Cook.

“There are also experienced players like Glenn Stewart, Harrison Hansen and myself who will be able to help him.”