Leigh sign Williams to help punch their weight

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Leigh have shown their ambition by signing the former Australian Schoolboys international half-back, Joe Williams.

The former South Sydney player is returning to his first sport with the Co-operative Conference club after a dalliance with professional boxing. "He's a great player," said the Leigh coach, Neil Kelly. "He's got great pace around the ruck, which is something we need at half-back."

Williams, who played for Souths between 2004 and 2007 and also played briefly for Penrith and Canterbury, still has to secure his visa and work permit, but Kelly said he was expected to arrive next month. Leigh were unsuccessful candidates for Super League when the first 14 licences were allocated for this season, but have a new ground and plan to apply for the next assessment for 2012.