Gareth Hock Agrees Contract Extension With The Centurions

Leigh Centurions are delighted to announce that Gareth Hock has extended his contract with the Club until the end of the 2018 season.

The new contract applies irrespectively of whether the Club is in the Kingstone Press Championship or Super League in each of those years.

Gareth, 32, is a former Great Britain and England international forward who joined the Club in February 2015 following his release from Salford Red Devils.

Wigan born, he came through the Wigan scholarship and academy ranks and after winning Great Britain Academy international honours in 2001 made his first team debut in 2003 against Doncaster, earning Heritage Number 953.

He scored a total of 48 tries in 191 games for Wigan before leaving the club to spend a season long loan at Widnes in 2013 when he scored ten tries in 16 games.

In September 2013 he signed a four-year contract at Salford and scored six tries in 18 games for the Red Devils, taking his club tally to 64 tries in 227 games with a further nine appearances on the international stage.

Gareth earned Heritage Number 1397 at Leigh Centurions and scored five tries in 17 appearances in his first year at LSV. The Club did have a one year option on his services after the end of this season but that has now been replaced by the new contract.

Leigh Centurions Head Coach Paul Rowley said: “It's great that Gareth has signed an extended contracted for Leigh Centurions. He expressed a strong desire to remain at Leigh and therefore it was a very simple decision as players of Gareth's quality are very rare.

“I have enjoyed coaching Gaz to this point and am looking forward to that continuing. Gareth is a popular team member and this will be welcome news to both teammates and staff.”

Gareth Hock said: “I am really pleased to be able to secure my future to end my playing days at Leigh. Despite only having been here a short period of time I am happier than I have ever been in my career.

“Maybe part of that is that I am older and wiser and better for it but I still have the same burning ambition and desire to win and succeed and I want to end my career winning something with Leigh.

“I have built a good relationship with Rolls and the rest of the coaching team and squad and a lot of friends have joined the club so we have a really healthy mix of hard work, professionalism and fun.

“I like how Rolls sees the game and the way we play and I am really enjoying my rugby and coming to work. I function best when I am happy and secure; it gives me confidence. I sat down with Derek in Lanzarote and it was really easy.

“Derek has been really good for me. He has a good understanding of me and is always there for me happy to help. He cares about his players and the team and shows a genuine interest in our wellbeing.

“I want to pay him back for that and as he always says you can do that for me on the field. I just couldn’t visualise myself playing anywhere else now, even if that meant finishing my career outside Super League.

“I am committed to this Club and will do everything in my power to finish at the highest level on a high, having achieved something great with Leigh. I have always said there is another chapter in my book and I am looking forward to playing out what I want to be written.”
Leigh Centurions Owner Derek Beaumont said: “Gaz is a top quality, proven player who plays the game hard. He is tough, aggressive and uncompromising and epitomises what the game is all about. I genuinely do not get the label Gaz has previously been given as he has not been an ounce of trouble and has only been good for the squad.

“Rolls enjoys coaching him and he enjoys being coached and is a leader on and off the field. I put it down to him being happy and sharing my philosophy which is to treat others as you expect to be treated.

“I have no doubt if you mistreat Gaz or get on the wrong side of him he will stand up for what he believes in, but we are a real good group with good morals and a shared vision and goal to be the best we can be individually and collectively.

“We want to achieve something special and I sense Gaz wants that as much as me. We had a little chat on the plane home from Lanzarote. It was nothing to do with this deal but it will be interesting to read his final chapter based on that, if and when he writes it.

“The public of Leigh have warmed to Gaz and I believe as the seasons go by he will gain even more respect from them. People forget just how good Gaz is and I believe this year in particular people will start to realise that and then it will be too late as he has already secured his future with Leigh.”