Leigh confirm return of Gregg McNally
Leigh have signed full-back Gregg McNally following his release from Championship rivals Bradford.
McNally, 28, was released from the final year of his contract with the Bulls on compassionate grounds due to care issues for his wife Rosey’s serious illness and his two young children.
The Centurions issued an appeal to raise funds via their supporters association to sign the Cumbrian, who previously played for Leigh between 2012 and 2017, making 147 appearances.
He said: “I call Leigh my home now and it always will be, so it’s great to be back.
“The way it ended when I left the Club in 2017 wasn’t pretty and I didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to play for them again. The prospect of running out at LSV again and playing in front of the North Stand is really exciting.
“With Rosey’s condition I needed to be close to home to look after her and the kids and i was thinking I’d have to hang up my boots. So I’m so thankful for the opportunity that Duffs and Leigh have given me. Mentally, as well, it will give me a huge boost being back here and being able to carry on playing.
“I can’t put into words what (Bradford Bulls chairman) Andrew Chalmers, John Kear and Stuart Duffy have done for me, and Bradford as a club have been so caring and professional. Andrew was very understanding straight away and he’s just been fantastic and John and Stuart equally so.
Leigh have had to rebuild their squad from scratch having failed to make the Championship top four last season, which resulted in a number of players being released and leaving, before owner Derek Beaumont revealed he would be withdrawing his funding.
They have tempted Martin Ridyard back to Leigh Sports Village from Featherstone, and have also added Super League talent in the halves in the shape of loan pair Josh Woods and Olly Russell.
Coach John Duffy said: “We’ve got the makings now of a very exciting squad and to add Gregg’s talents to the players we have already got is a mouth-watering prospect. Gregg’s a very smart player and a very talented one.
“Gregg can play one, six or seven so he will put pressure on the other pivots and really increase the competition for places. As a result I’m expecting the intensity in training to really step up as we approach the season.”