"It's going to be tough," said Beaumont, whose side clinched promotion by beating Whitehaven on Sunday.

"Without being disrespectful to clubs like Salford, Widnes and London, I see Leigh teaming up with those three.

"Those are the games we're pinpointing to win and do well in. If we can finish second in that group of four, we don't go down and we can build on that."

He added: "It's an immense achievement but we've got a lot of work to do, starting now.

"We've got a big board meeting on Wednesday and we need to appoint a chief executive and fill various other roles."

This is one of the proudest moments of my life to get my hometown team into the Super League Tommy Martyn

Leigh star Tommy Martyn said the team proved a point in beating Whitehaven.

Leigh were unhappy after losing out to Whitehaven at the National League awards ceremony earlier in the week.

Martyn said the team gained revenge by beating the Cumbrians 32-16 in Sunday's National League One final.

The 33-year-old, who will now retire from the sport, said: "To be shunned like that - it was two fingers up to Leigh Rugby League club."

The former St Helens favourite was so desperate to play that he defied medical advice to take his place in the side.

Martyn had damaged his arm in his side's defeat at Halifax in August but, having talked to coach Darren Abram on the way back from the awards, he decided he wanted to play.

"I had a chat on the way home from Leeds about playing and it was half past four when I got to sleep.

"I phoned Darren later and told him to put me in the team," he said.

The decision proved a good one as Martyn inspired his team to victory in extra-time with a superb display.

He scored a crucial solo try and, fittingly, had the final say with a drop goal in the second period of extra-time.

"This is one of the proudest moments of my life to get my hometown team into the Super League," added Martyn.