Leigh confirm return of Jake Emmitt from Toronto

James Gordon

Leigh have boosted their squad with the signing of Jake Emmitt from Toronto Wolfpack.

Emmitt, 30, joins the Centurions for the third time in his career, having appeared for them on dual-registration from St Helens in 2010 and then on a permanent basis from 2014-16.

Coach John Duffy said: “I think it’s a great signing. Jake’s a great addition to our squad. Everyone knows we are short on numbers at the moment and he’s the best middle on the market at this moment in time.

“We have been working on this for a while so I’m looking forward to seeing him back in a Leigh Centurions shirt.”

Emmitt left Leigh under a bit of a cloud back in June 2016, to go and play country rugby league in Australia, before returning little more than two months later to play for Swinton.

He said: “I’m made up to be coming back to Leigh. It feels like I’m coming home. Once you have Leigh in your blood it doesn’t leave you.

“At the time it was an opportunity for me to do something different in my life.

“I went out there to play with a mate of mine but when we didn’t make the play-offs I was out of a job and Swinton offered me a chance to come home.

“It was all some time ago and everyone was in a different place. Maybe it could have all been handled differently but we can’t change that now. There’s no point looking back.

“I can’t wait to get started. There are no grudges from me. Leigh fans are passionate and love their club. For me to get them all back on side it’s all to do with my performances and I’ll be doing my utmost to win them over.”