PAUL Rowley is predicting new recruit Greg Worthington will prove to be Leigh Centurions' best signing of the close season.

While the club's marquee signing, the legendary Tonga prop Fuifui Moimoi, attracted much of the attention of the fans and media in Sunday's dramatic 18-14 friendly victory over Wigan Warriors, head coach Rowley turned his focus on Worthington and fellow new signing Ben Reynolds, who both had impressive debuts.

“I can guarantee you that he will probably be our best signing.” Rowley said of Worthington, the 24-year-old centre, who joined Leigh in a five-figure transfer from Kingstone Press Championship rivals Featherstone Rovers.

“He’s a good player. We often find when players come to this club we find a key to the treasure box.

"He’s got a wealth of skills and ability that we haven’t seen too much of when we’ve been playing against him. He’s got a lot more in his locker."

Rowley added: “Ben Reynolds had a real good debut. He played well and he must be pleased.

"Missing the Championship player of the year ( Martin Ridyard was injured) and having your other (Chanmpionship young player of the year Ryan Brierley) poorly is quite disruptive.

"Ben was probably thrown into the lions' den a bit but that can do you good sometimes.”

Reynolds, a 21-year-old goal-kicking full-back signed from Castleford, is doubtful for the Centurions' second friendly against North Wales Crusaders at LSV on Sunday after picking up an injury in the Wigan game.

He joins Matthew Sarsfield, who is to miss the next six weeks with a pectoral injury, and fellow back-rower Kurt Haggerty, who is laid up for another couple of weeks, on the casualty list.

Meanwhile Richard Beaumont's absence from the clubs since before Christmas has prompted Leigh to look for extra cover.

Nevertheless, there is a buoyant mood in the Centurions' camp after the performance against Wigan, who included nine of their Super League Grand Final line-up.

A delighted Rowley added: “The game came at a good time although we had a few injuries, missing Ridyard, having to be careful with Brierley because he was full of flu, and we had no second-rowers. It was going to be a good challenge for us.

“Wigan came to us with a very strong side, bar a few individuals, so to get the win was fantastic.

“More importantly it was never about the result it was more about our objectives, which we achieved.

"It gives us a good starting base ahead of the game this week.

“As coaches we can get some good work in now on what we need to improve on, looking at things we can do to reinforce what we did well. There was quite a lot we did well.

"I’m happy that we looked physically fit and strong and we more than held our own in that middle unit and our backs looked comfortable as well.

“It was a good all-round performance. It was a good challenge for us and we were put under the cosh defensively.

“That second half did get a bit scrappy and there was a bit of role reversal and that happened last year against Leeds. Everyone says the Championship club wants to slow it down, but from where I was sitting, there were some really good slowing tactics from Wigan - and fair play to them.”

Although the Crusaders were relegated from the Kingstone Press Championship at the end of last season, they gave the Centurions two of their toughest fixtures and have now appointed former Leigh hooker Anthony Murray as head coach after he guided the side for the final three months of the campaign.

The Crusaders squad will also have a sprinkling of ex-Leigh players, including Ian Mort and Ryan Duffy, who joined them permanently in the close season.