LEIGH Centurions have finally got their men after a transfer chase going back over a year.

They've landed former Great Britain international tourist Jon Roper from Castleford at the second attempt and finally persuaded Wigan's young reserve second rower Andy Isherwood that his future lies at Hilton Park, not the JJB Stadium.

It was a delighted head coach Paul Terzis who spoke exclusively to the Journal from Australia this week.

Back in Sydney on a fact-finding trip, Terzis revealed how Roper, 25, and Isherwood, 21, had been on his wanted list for over a year.

"We spoke to Jon when he was considering signing for Whitehaven this time last year. But then Castleford stepped in with a contract offer and he went to The Jungle instead.

Dogged by injury

"His early months at Cas were dogged by injury but in the last couple of months he's come back strongly and been one of the form centres in Super League. He's an indication of the quality we're trying to attract to Leigh," says Terzis who will be back at his Hilton Park desk after the weekend.

"Andrew (Isherwood) is one of the best young prospects around and I'm delighted that we've persuaded him that he can fulfil his ambitions with Leigh. It's been a long chase for him, but we've finally got there."

Cumbrian Roper will add experience, pace and size to Leigh's threequarters. He joined Warrington as a teenager and as a 20-year-old was chosen for the 1996 Great Britain tour to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Three years later he won his first full England cap.

Last year he spent spells on loan with London and Salford before linking up with the Tigers.

Both can't wait to get stuck in at Hilton Park.

"Although I've enjoyed my season at Cas, I'm already looking forward to pre-season training with Leigh," says Roper.

Step down

"Many people might see it as a step down coming to the NFP, but I don't see it that way. Leigh are ambitious and I'm ambitious and I think we can achieve things together."

Isherwood echoed Roper's sentiment's even though he has still one game to play for Wigan Alliance - next week's Grand Final.

"I signed for Wigan at 15 and I've only made a handful of first team appearances. I've been impressed by the set-up at Leigh and I know that I've got a genuine chance of regular first team rugby here. I can't wait to get started."

Leigh are also still in the race to sign Roper's ex-Cas team-mate, Aussie prop Darren Shaw, and Wigan reserve grade winger Eric Andrews.

Meanwhile Leigh have re-signed Simon Baldwin, Paul Anderson, John Hamilton and Simon Svabic from last season's squad but have released John Duffy and Andy Leathem. Willie Swann and Liam Bretherton are still considering new offers from Leigh.