ROHAN Smith has applauded Leigh for reaching Super League and believes their success provides "a light at the end of the tunnel" for ambitious Championship clubs.

Neil Jukes' men can look forward to their first season back in the big time since 2005 after a remarkable campaign which has seen them win five games out of five so far in the Qualifiers.

Smith admits the Bulls will not throw money at it in the way that big-spending Leigh have but the Australian is confident his new-look side will pose a serious challenge next year.

"Every club is different and the recipe for success will be different at each one," said the Bulls boss.

"Obviously Leigh have added some quality players as the season has gone on and created real depth and great experience.

"We are going to have some experience next year but we are going to have to go about it a different way with the development of younger players and players on the fringe.

"We will have to progress that way and see how recruitment goes during the season.

"There are lots of ingredients that can go into a team who can challenge for promotion and each club will have different strengths and weaknesses.

"It's going to take a bit of time to gel together and the longer we go on, the better we will be.

"If we use the word 'consolidate', it limits what you're capable of and I don't want to do that.

"We will be at our best some time in the future but we will certainly be aiming to represent ourselves well in the early part of the season and get in position to have a crack."

On the success of Leigh in proving that the controversial league structure works, Smith added: "It has given a real breath of fresh air and light at the end of the tunnel for Championship clubs.

"London have had a real crack in a couple of games as well.

"Leigh have done a tremendous job and I've got admiration for the progress they have made and all credit for getting the job done.

"They have certainly performed more consistently than we have this season.

"They deserve to be in Super League. We played strongly against them on both occasions since I arrived and we have a lot of good players remaining and some good players coming in.

"It's going to be a fresh start but when we are going to be at our best is a little unknown. It's going to be a journey – but I'm not limiting the progress of that journey."

Lewis Charnock returns to the 19-man squad for Sunday's visit of Sheffield but Kurt Haggerty begins a two-match ban following his recent dismissal against Swinton.