IAN Millward is looking to fan power to help him bring a second top Aussie forward to Hilton Park. The Leigh Centurions coach yesterday wrapped up a one-year deal for highly-rated back rower Heath Cruickshank - and then quickly turned his attention to another target from down under.

But to land his man Millward needs the financial backing of the recently formed Leigh Independent Supporters Association (LISA).

"The guy I want would be another top signing for this club. He's young, big and strong and played over here in England with a top Division One side last season," Millward revealed.

The deal to land 22-year-old Cruickshank from the now defunct Gold Coast Chargers club in Queensland was put together with the financial help of sponsors Alan Shaw of ESB Motorcycles, Simon Monks of Monks Travel and Tommy Coleman of Coleman Construction. "Without their help and the fact that the NRL in Australia are subsidising his contract, we'd probably have lost Heath to another English club," Millward adds.

"To land this second guy I really need LISA to back me with the money they've pledged for the purchase of new players. But we need to move quickly. If we don't get the guy registered with the League by January 25 we could end up with one of our best forwards sitting in the grandstand for all our Challenge Cup ties."

Cruickshank is described by coach Millward as a 'tough and uncompromising' back row forward who will put some steel and muscle into the Leigh pack.

"In one game last season he took on probably Australia's toughest prop, Peter Ryan of Brisbane Broncos, and gave him a real hard time. It's something of a coup for us to get a player of Heath's quality in our ranks," he says.

The work permit application for Cruickshank has now been submitted with Leigh keeping their fingers crossed that all the red tape will be completed in time for the player to get to England in time for the start of the Challenge Cup campaign on January 31.

The Hilton Park chief is also delighted to have tied up Saf Patel, Alan Hadcroft, John Costello and David Ingram on new contracts.

"These are the type of players we've got to build our first grade squad around and to secure them for another year is a big boost."

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