Former Leigh player returns as coach

Leigh Centurions have confirmed the appointment of Kurt Haggerty to John Duffy’s backroom staff as the club looks forward to the 2021 season.

Haggerty is a former Leigh player. He has built a fine reputation in the coaching ranks since retiring as a player in 2016.

He has been a member of Toronto Wolfpack’s coaching staff during their time in the professional ranks. Haggerty also served a long apprenticeship in the community game as head coach of National Conference side Pilkington Recs.

Head coach Duffy said: “Kurt knows the club inside out and has been on a pathway in his coaching career through the amateur and professional ranks. He is very intelligent, diligent and cares for the club and the people involved in it.

 “He is a great addition for us as we look forward to the season ahead. Kurt took the decision to retire early as a player to become a coach and he has already had a great grounding with his long association at Toronto and his time in the community game.

 “Kurt was a clever footballer, a brilliant player in my opinion, who was ahead of the coaching at the time with the way he played the game. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

 Haggerty added: “Leigh is a club that I always seem drawn to. I played here as a 19-year-old kid and came back in 2014-15 and enjoyed some good times here.

“The Club did brilliantly to win the Super League bid and by all accounts the document that Derek Beaumont and his fellow directors put together was fantastic.

“We are under no illusions about how hard it will be and know we will have bad weeks as well as good, but we know we have a great opportunity and everyone here is on the same page, wanting the club to do well.”