LCTV's Dave Parkinson chats to Dayne Weston about Rugby League, life in Leigh and the challenge ahead----

Dayne Weston can't wait for the season opener at Batley on Sunday.

The former Melbourne Storm prop has settled in well at LSV and like the rest of the playing staff is happy pre season is over.

The former Melbourne Storm prop was a guest on LCTV recently and began by reflecting on the performances in the two trial games against Wigan and Warrington.

"The side is coming together really well," he said. "We had a bit of a hiccup at Warrington but we were able to draw a lot of positives out of it. It was pretty much a full strength Warrington side and we had a lot of experience sitting in the stand, but we are not here to make excuses. We'll learn from that experience and it will only make us better as a team and as a club.

"I think the quality of people that have been brought to the club will help us both on and off the field. There is some real quality. Rangi Chase was only Man of Steel here a handful of years ago. Harrison Hansen is proven at the top level here while Reni Maitua is one of the hardest forwards going.

"Cory (Paterson) is a bit similar to me, he's done his time in the NRL and come over and been playing some good footy. We've already got Fui and Willie Tonga - I keep rattling them off - they are great names to have in your side. I know the town is excited and us as players are excited by it."

Dayne and his family have settled easily into the local community.

"It's exciting times at Leigh and although it's going to take a while - things don't happen overnight," he added. "There are things that will change and we will get better throughout the season in the Championship. It's about making sure we are ready to go when the crunch time happens in the middle eights. If we are then doing things right then we will put ourselves in good stead for competing at the top level."

Of the new players recruited only Harrison Hansen wasn't well known to Dayne.

"I played alongside Willie Tonga at North Queensland Cowboys and all the other boys I've played against in the NRL. Rangi and Cory are a similar age to me, so as kids we grew up playing against one another. Harrison was the only one I'd seen but didn't know a lot about.

"That said, I'm good mates with Blake Green who played over here with Harrison at Wigan. He spoke highly about him; about how good of a person he was. It's always good to know people that know others but speaking first hand, Harrison has been great for the club and great for building the culture here and bringing that professionalism.

"It's only the club's second year in being full-time. Things are always going to look to change and look to improve and like us all at Leigh we just want to be better and be better on the field too."

Having spent the past two years at Melbourne, Dayne is looking to bring his experience to the club.

"Being fresh from Melbourne, it helps," he said, "I haven't seen a club do it so well as Melbourne has and continue to do. It's little things that happen that go un-noticed. Fans don't see and people walking down the street don't see. It's the little things that add up that might not mean a lot if you bring it up and talk about it, but it all builds that culture.

"Little things build into big things. It's creating good habits, on and off the field. That is what builds a good culture. The boys have been great, they are buying into it all. We all know what we want and we know what we need to do to achieve it. I like to add my two bob in here and there when I can. I'm not a big talker, but if I can share my experiences with the side, with the club that I think will better us, then I will.

"I'm looking forward to getting involved, starting next week getting into our first game at Batley. It's exciting for the town and for everyone involved."

Rarely has someone shown so much enthusiasm for a trip to Batley than the prop forward, but you sense it's more than that for Weston. It is all a challenge.

"It's something I've never done before. It is strange because in Australia you can go from one club to another and know what you are going to get, but it's why I've come here. I wanted to experience that and I'm very fortunate that my beautiful wife can support me in doing it.

"It's a great opportunity not only for me but also the family. The kids are in school now and they are loving it over here. They might not appreciate it fully now, but later on in life, they will.

You can watch Dayne Weston's full interview with Dave Parkinson on LCTV. A subscription costs only £32 a year.