WORLD record try scorer Martin Offiah has turned down the offer of a short-term contract with Leigh Centurions.

Instead Offiah is to end his distinguished playing career at the end of the season and move into media and TV work.

The Centurions made their bold move for the former Widnes, Wigan, Salford and London Broncos wing star as the Hilton Park injury list reaches epidemic proportions.

Offiah holds the world record number of tries in a career - just over 500.

"Even though he's not as young as he was, Martin's still a quality finisher," says Leigh's head coach Paul Terzis.

"We put a package to him via our chief executive Tommy Cunningham. He gave it some consideration but eventually came back to say that he'd decided to retire from the playing side.

"It didn't come down to finance, it came down to what Martin wants to do with the rest of his life."

Offiah, who is currently contracted to leading RU side Wasps, was seen by Leigh as giving them a vital cutting edge as they push for promotion to Super League.

Leigh also made an approach for Halifax utility back Darryl Cardiss but their hopes for a loan deal fell through when it was discovered that a knee injury would rule the player out for the rest of the year.

"We've not given up trying to bring good players in, but we'll have to be patient," says Terzis.

Leigh's need to boost their squad has taken on more urgency with the news that scrum-half Willie Swann could be out for the rest of the year and second rower Chris Morley will be missing for the next 4-6 weeks.

Swann damaged a medial ligament in his knee at Oldham last Sunday and faces an anxious wait to discover the full extent of the damage. "He's booked in to see a specialist," says Terzis. "At best it will be a two or three week absence, but all the signs are pointing to a long job."

Morley broke a bone in his hand in the same game and joins other long-term casualties John Hamilton (broken hand), Liam Bretherton (dislocated wrist), Paul Norman (knee) and Dave Ingram (knee).

Prop Vila Matautia will again be missing when Leigh take on Whitehaven at Hilton Park on Sunday. Also out is fellow front rower Dave Bradbury who still has ankle trouble.

But back into the side will come hooker Paul Rowley who returns after two games out with a fractured cheekbone. On-loan Dave Highton, who covered for Rowley at Oldham, keeps his place in the side but will operate from loose-forward.

Highton, 22, who can play hooker, back row or half-back, joined the Centurions on a month's loan from Salford late last week. He made his debut at Oldham, scoring one try and setting up another.

Leigh's line-up for Sunday is: Turley, Irwin, Kendrick, Roper, McCully, Svabic, Duffy, Knox, Rowley, Whittle, Baldwin, Bristow, Highton. Subs: Ball, Anderson, Isherwood, Blackwood.

Leigh's Under 19's play Whitehaven at Hilton Park on Sunday, kick off 12.45pm.

The next LISA meeting is on July 18 at 7.30pm when Mike Nolan, Paul Terzis and Mike Callaghan will be the guests.