And he could be the man to lead the Centurions bid for National One glory in 2009.


"He's the sort of senior player that every club loves to have," said coach Neil Kelly. "He has great experience and a terrific attitude both on an off the field. He sets a good example to the younger players and they look up to him.
"To me he is ideal captain material, commanding respect from the youngsters and fellow senior professionals. And I have always thought that playing full back is a good place to captain the side from."
If that was to be the case then Stuart would be emulating his father Steve who captained the Leigh side in the early 1980s.


But it would also mean an end to the captaincy for Centurions' current on-field skipper James Taylor.
"James Taylor is a young player who is still developing and developing very well," explained Kelly. "He has done a great job for us, but I feel that it would be a real benefit if I was to relieve him of the burden of being captain.
"It would enable him to concentrate on his own game rather than the games of those around him. I feel the captaincy might have held him back and I think he will really flourish and prosper without it."


Donlan can play full back, wing or centre and he began his career with Leigh back in 1997, before signing for Halifax in 2001 and then playing Super League with Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers.
He was a member of the Giants cup final side at the Millennium Stadium in 2006 as well as being an Irish Rugby League International and proven try scorer.
The fans will point out the form of Ian Mort this campaign, but Kelly has every intention of maximising the potential of all his players.


"Ian has been superb," he said. "But we need competition for places across the board and Ian will benefit from that competition. Stuart is a superb player and we need the balance of good, experienced players with all the right attributes to bring on our very good young players. We need the balance.
"But I am also determined that we do not take on good players who are looking for one more season in the paying game.
"I think that has happened in the past but from now on we want players who have a good few seasons in them and who will contribute not only on the field but in developing the right environment for the younger players off it.
''We are now talking to a number of good quality players who want to come to this club to take it forward."
At 30 years of age, Donlan should certainly have a good few seasons left in him, as Leigh look to strengthen their squad with a stand-off, centre and second row among their top priorities.


"Dennis Moran has retired and Toa Kohe Love has gone back to Widnes," added Kelly.
"We need to replace those key players. We also could do with a back row, who could fill in for the front row if needed.
"We have made an offer to Lee Doran, but do not know whether he will sign for us just yet. It is a good offer, but we need to start getting our squad for next year in place.


"I am determined that we will improve our discipline for next year. I feel it cost us dearly this season and even on Sunday when we gave far too many penalties away. That defeat was dreadfully disappointing but we contrived to throw our opportunities away, and didn't really deserve to win on the day. Having said that we have massively under achieved and I am dreadfully disappointed we didn't go further.


"But now we are looking for the next campaign, and hopefully there are more new signings down the track."