Ryan Brierley returns to Leigh

Leigh have re-signed half-back Ryan Brierley from Hull KR for the 2021 Championship campaign.

The 28-year-old has made 138 appearances for Leigh in total, spending five seasons at the club between 2012-16 as well as a loan period in 2019, recording almost 600 points for the Centurions in the process.

Brierley, who has earned five caps for Scotland, left Leigh in 2016 to join Super League side Huddersfield before enjoying spells with Toronto Wolfpack and Hull KR.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to be back. Leigh is the club that shaped me and it’s one of my biggest regrets that I wasn’t part of the team which achieved promotion to Super League. That’s a wrong I want to put right by helping them to win promotion.

“There was a big pull for me to come back to Leigh and I wanted it to happen when I was there on loan in 2019. The timing wasn’t right then but now it is and I can’t wait to come back.

“When I came back to Leigh on loan I was mega impressed with the way John Duffy operates as a coach and technically, he’s the best coach I’ve ever worked with. I’m still only 28 and I feel I am still learning and have a lot I want to achieve in the game.”

Leigh coach John Duffy said: “Ryan knows the club inside out and his strike rate for Leigh Centurions is exceptional.

“He can play in a variety of positions and though in the past he’s been known for his support play, I’ll be looking to give him additional responsibility on the field.

“Ryan is always keen to keep learning and even though he had opportunities to go elsewhere, he was desperate to return to Leigh.”

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