HAPPY Leigh are at last celebrating reaching Super League.

Their extra-time 32-16 success over Whitehaven finally secured their place among rugby league's elite after suffering heartbreak in three previous finals.

And Tommy Martyn revealed that the snub at last week's National League awards ceremony was just the kick-start they needed to come out on top this time.

Martyn, who surprisingly returned to action after an arm injury to play the final game of his career, said: "We were pretty upset not to win the Club of the Year award. I had a chat to coach Darren Abram on the way home and on Wednesday told him to count me in."

Martyn was one of the key figures with a try and field goal as Leigh three times came from behind to claim a place in next season's Super League.

Under normal circumstances Martyn would not have played. After further damaging his three times broken arm specialists advised immediate retirement.

"But I'm a rugby league player. We put our bodies on the line week in, week, out -- that's what we do.

"Apart from winning the Lance Todd Trophy this is the proudest moment of my career.

"I was brought to Leigh, my hometown club, to try and get them into Super League. Now it's mission accomplished, and I'm a happy man to have done that."

But Martyn has also re-iterated his intention to retire as a player.

"That's it, it's all over," he said. I've just thrown my boots into the crowd and if anyone tries to give them back to me they'll get a smack on the nose!"

The Centurions will now focus on building a squad which will be good enough for Super League but the future of coach Abram is by no means decided. Although he has an offer of a Super League contract on the table, Abram has a lucrative job outside the game and has operated on a part-time basis this season.

He would not be drawn on his future immediately afterwards.

"I'm just going to savour the moment and enjoy it. My future is for another day."