Leigh Centurions are hopeful of making 'three or four' more additions to their squad before the start of the new Championship season - with new head of rugby Chris Chester promising the club are aiming to build a squad that is ready for Super League in 2023.
After another off-season with high turnover at the Leigh Sports Village - including off the field - Chester is aiming to draw a comparison with his most successful period in charge of Wakefield Trinity, when the club made only a handful of changes to their playing squad in achieving back-to-back fifth-place finishes in Super League.
Leigh have flexed their financial muscle in preparation for their return to the Championship, with a number of high-profile additions, the latest being Papua New Guinea international Edwin Ipape. But Chester says their squad is still not yet complete.
"Although we're a little low on numbers at the moment, there are three or four players at least who we're chatting to that we're hopeful of getting over the line in the coming days and weeks," he told Rugby League Live.
"That then brings us to a squad of 24 or 25, and when you factor in our dual-registration with St Helens, the squad starts to look quite thick. I know Adrian (Lam) and Derek (Beaumont) are quite relaxed about the shape the squad is in, and so am I."
Chester inherited a squad of just seven first-team players when he was appointed head of rugby at Leigh late last year. But he has stressed to Centurions supporters he wants to make situations like that a thing of the past.
"They were put into Super League at the last minute last year, given a million quid and were last to recruit," he said.
"They ultimately had to recruit some players who perhaps weren't quite right for the club but what we've tried to do this year is go more on quality and bring in people and players who are ready to step up in Super League. That means if it all works out and we get promoted, we just add a sprinkle of quality and don't have to undergo a full upheaval.
"In 2017 and 2018 at Wakefield, we just added a touch of quality each year and reaped the rewards. Every other year here, they've had to reset and have had to start again, bringing in a whole host of players. I'd like to think that come the end of the year, if we're involved in that Grand Final, we've got a squad that's ready for Super League in 2023."
Leigh's first match under new head coach Adrian Lam takes place on Friday, when they play reigning Super League champions St Helens in Alex Walmsley's testimonial match.
