FORMER Warrington Wolves, Widnes Vikings and Wigan Warriors centre Anthony Gelling has signed for Leigh Centurions.

Gelling, 30, is a vastly experienced centre or back row forward with over one hundred Betfred Super League games under his belt, the vast majority during a successful six-year spell with Wigan Warriors.

Leigh Head coach John Duffy said: “News of Anthony’s availability came out of the blue, but things then moved quickly, and I’m delighted to welcome him to the club.

“Anthony has plenty of friends among our playing staff and after speaking with them he’s really keen to come and play and he can’t wait to get started.

“He’s really exciting to watch and will strengthen our back line. He’s got star quality, can make something happen out of nothing and he’s got lots of big game experience. He’s played in some massive games during his career, World Club Challenge, Challenge Cup and Grand Finals so he will immediately add value and particularly help our young lads progress.”

Auckland born Gelling came to Wigan in 2012, making his Super League debut in an early season game at Widnes when his new Leigh teammates Matty Russell, Ben Flower, Joe Mellor and Tom Spencer were also in the Wigan side. Russell also made his Wigan debut that day, scoring two tries in a 36-37 defeat.

After playing 26 games in his first two seasons at Wigan, Gelling earned a regular place in each of the next four years and in all scored 52 tries in 115 games. He played in the 2014 and 2016 Grand Finals, being on the winning side against Warrington in the latter year, alongside Flower and Lewis Tierney in the 12-6 defeat of Warrington Wolves.

He was also a member of the Wigan side that became world champions in 2017 after their 22-6 victory over Cronulla, when Tierney and Flower were again alongside him in the Warriors side, and later that year played in Wigan’s 14-18 Challenge Cup Final defeat at the hands of Hull FC at Wembley.

Gelling, who represented Cook Islands in the 2013 World Cup, returned down under in 2018, scoring two tries in seven NRL games for the New Zealand Warriors.

He came back to England in 2019, scoring 11 tries in 17 games for Widnes Vikings and last year, back in Super League, scored seven tries in 13 appearances for Warrington Wolves.