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Exclusive: Caleb Aekins believes Leigh can cause problems in the Challenge Cup

New Zealander Caleb Aekins has set his sights on a possible run in the Challenge Cup this season.

The Leigh Centurions full-back is confident his new club can give a good account of themselves in the tournament and can compete with the very best for the prestigious award.

He said, “I think we have a team who can compete with some of those top teams in the Super League.

“We had a good hit out away at St Helens very recently. They came out on top but it showed us where we were.

“I do not think we are quite there yet but I think we will be after the first few rounds of the season and I think we could have a good hack at the Challenge Cup.”

However, many would argue that the clubs’ main priority is an immediate return to the Betfred Super League.

Leigh repeated unwanted history last year as they were relegated back to the Betfred Championship for the third time in the summer era.

Aekins admitted it is one of his goals to not only help the Centurions back to Super League but also overcome the hurdle of ‘one-season wonders’ that has haunted them for almost two decades.

“There is a good crew that has been put together here,” Aekins added.

“I think that is the plan going forward, to get into the Super League and stay there because they have admitted that Leigh been known for being a ‘yo-yo’ team.

“I am hoping we can change that with the squad we have got and be able to keep it together going forward.”

The Centurions begin their promotion push today against Whitehaven at 3pm where a two minute applause will take place after two minutes for Leigh legend Des Drummond who passed away yesterday at the age of 63.

Ahead of that game and the start of the season, Aekins has also responded to comments made by Featherstone Rovers Head Coach Brian McDermott.

On Wednesday at the club’s Press Day, the ‘Fev’ boss stated that the Centurions are the “frontrunners” for promotion to the Betfred Super League in 2022 even though his side are also highly fancied.

With various reporters claiming “The mind games have begun”, Aekins admitted he is excited by the challenge that lays ahead.

“It kind of paints a target on our back if anything,” Aekins said.

“It adds more incentive for the other teams in the Championship to come and put a big game on against us.

“I am not too fussed with who the favourites are, I will just turn up to every game and do my job but hopefully, we can live up to it, if we are the favourites.”

“We got on really well both on and off the field so we can help each other a lot which has made it really easy for me coming in so I will just slot in where I need to be and they will help me out a lot.

“We think we are in for a tough test from Whitehaven this weekend. We expect our first few opponents will be ‘flying out’ and ready to get stuck in to us.

“We just have to get past that first 20 minutes and see how the game goes.

“We know it is going to be a bit of a ‘war’ at the start of the game but we will hopefully get past that but overall, we are really looking forward to the start of the season and to start playing rugby league again.”

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