LEIGH will this week unveil their very own Man of Steel.

Ian Millward is set to become coach at Hilton Park.

Widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming young coaches in Australia, he was yesterday (Wednesday) on the brink of signing a contract.

Negotiations were wrapped up at the weekend. And the contract was whisked away to Australia to be completed.

Leigh are holding back on a formal announcement - but are obviously delighted with the capture.

Millward is currently reserve grade coach at Illawarra Steelers, one of the leading teams in the Sydney competition. His father is chief executive with the club.

If Leigh do complete the deal they will owe a lot to former Hilton Park boss Steve Simms and Leeds chief Graham Murray who have both given Millward glowing reports on the Hilton Park club.

Millward, married with a young family, could be in Leigh as early as next month - but will not be able to leave Australia until his commitments with the Steelers are finished.

He has been with Illawarra since 1993, and, for the last two seasons, has been first team assistant to Andrew Farrar as well as running the Steelers' reserve grade.

Tipped to develop into a top coach, Millward has vast experience in all aspects of the game: player recruitment, leading coaching clinics, schools' development, corporate sponsorship, marketing and media.

One of the spin-offs from the deal will see Leigh formally twinned with the Steelers and lead to both clubs exchanging players and sharing expertise on and off the field.

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