Leigh Centurions 32 Whitehaven 16 (aet) by Mike Hulme: LEIGH'S long and winding road to a place in Super League has ended in success but not after another rollercoaster ride.

Finally, after five years on the brink, Leigh are back with the big boys after an 11-year absence.

The memory of three previous Grand Final defeats in the last four years were swept aside as they lasted the course better over 100 gruelling and tension-packed minutes.

Leigh had heroes all over the field. Tommy Martyn defied doctor's orders to play; Paul Rowley played in immense pain from a shoulder injury that needs surgery on Tuesday and record-breaking full-back Neil Turley again came up with the goods just when Leigh needed it most.

It was Turley's 79th minute field goal that took the game into extra time when it looked as though Whitehaven were going to take the major prize.

That was the lifeline Leigh needed. They simply blew Whitehaven away in the first period of extra time.

But before that it was anybody's game. Leigh made a disastrous start by conceding a try to Wesley Wilson inside two minutes and all the early momentum was with the Cumbrians.

Leigh gradually took a foothold on the game and Turley put them on the score board with a penalty goal. Turley then combined with John Duffy to set up Leigh's equaliser from Ben Cooper. Turley missed the conversion but nudged Leigh into a 7-6 half time lead with a field goal.

Whitehaven caught Leigh cold again at the start of the second half when David Seeds kicked ahead for the speedy Craig Calvert to beat Rob Smyth and score. Mick Nanyn added the extras.

Haven's inability to turn pressure into points soon cost them dear. It was Martyn who made the breakthrough, stretching over to touch down from close range after Rowley had broken Whitehaven up the middle. Turley's conversion put Leigh back ahead 13-12. Turley extended the lead to 15-12 with a penalty and with the clock ticking down, Leigh looked home and dry.

But somehow Whitehaven dragged themselves up off the canvas and sneaked back in front with Wilson's second try.

But Leigh would not be beaten and Turley took the game into extra time with his second field goal of the game.

Leigh took the second chance with both hands and by the end of the first period of extra time, Super League was assured.

Rowley potted a field goal to regain the lead before Martyn popped a sensational pass to Cooper who raced away for his second of the game. It got even better as Turley chipped ahead on the last tackle, the ball bouncing perfectly for the full-back to leap, gather and score under the posts.

Leigh happily played out time in the second period but still had time to add a Turley penalty and, fittingly, a Martyn field goal.