Leigh Centurions are pleased to confirm that Jonny Pownall is the latest player to commit his immediate future to the Club.
The Leigh born winger signed a two-year full-time playing contract that will keep him at the Club until the end of the 2016 season.
Pownall, 22, will go full-time on 1 December 2014 in line with similar deals recently signed by Kurt Haggerty, Jamie Acton and Cameron Pitman. After making his debut in 2011 Pownall has played 51 first-team games for the Centurions and scored 32 tries.
Leigh Centurions Head Coach Paul Rowley said: "Jonny is a very valuable member of our squad and I am delighted to have secured his signing. He is another player who will benefit from being in a full-time playing environment from next year.
"Jonny is a real character in the dressing room and to say he is popular with his team-mates and staff is an understatement. He is a young player who has already had a good deal of first-team experience and we expect him to be an important part of the squad for many years to come."
Commenting on the latest signing Centurions Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: "It is particularly pleasing to see Paul reward Jonny with a two-year full-time extension to his contract. He is a local lad and a product of our very strong local amateur club Leigh Miners Rangers.
"Jonny has youth on his side and is a player of whom we have great expectations as he develops and matures. Being in a full-time environment should see that development progress quickly. He is a likable lad and it is great to see him being rewarded in this way."​​

Great news to see another young Leigh lad signed up. Again, I am taking my hat off to the BOM for all of these recent announcements - all good homegrown or local talent, no overpaid journeymen from overseas or former internationals looking for a retirement home - and now on full-time contracts, which means they can only get better and better. How exciting is that?

Sorry but don't rate him at all we have a far better player out on loan at batley.also the board need to be getting Kay nailed down long term before Salford come sniffing round him to.

Jonny is an exciting prospect who will come on leaps and bounds in a full time environment. It is worth pointing out that Jonny's long term position never was and never will be on the wing.

I am pleased to see young Jonny's outstanding record of 31 tries in only 51 games and his future potential recognised and rewarded by the club.

Me also Harold. I cannot believe he is only 22. He seems to have been around for donkeys. Just shows what position we were in when we had to play him at such an early age. But on the plus side some of his performances were fantastic for such a young lad.

Brilliant i'm so pleased for JP, he has scored some real good trysand of course my son will be over the moon

Jonny Pownall is a good player both on attack and defence plus he has pace and is only 22. Good move by the club.

Not going to argue that Kay doesn't deserve a full-time contract! Perhaps that is in the works and it's a matter of agreeing terms. However, I trust the coach and the BOM to make the correct decisions.

Brown no longer is a SL player which has to tell you something. He may have peaked whereas JP may well be on an upward trajectory..

Good news again

I love watching Pownall play rugby. I trust that Paul Rowley can see a future for him here and that says a lot about his potential going forward. He gives 100% on the field, whether it's in the first team or the reserves.
I was excited when Brown was signed but there is a reason why he was dropped in the first place, then did not break back into the side. There must also be a reason why he was not recalled after the month was up, and why he still has not been recalled even when a spot on the wing became available.
Well done Jonny Pownall

Johnny is a really nice guy and has taken the spell with the reserves well and has been a top performer in those ranks as well as when he is on first team duties, lets not forget he isn't a natural winger but a full back but has filled that spot admirably in the squad, he fits in well with the philosophy that surrounds the club. Well done JP look forward to filming an interview with you soon pal.
As for Liam Kay isnt he already on a two year deal with still a year left

Looks like I have upset the jonny pownall fan club sorry but I will not chage my mind on him I have only seen him have one good game which was fev away in NRC last year. As for him at full back we'll all as I can say is let's hope gregg doesn't get injured he is useless under the high ball.

Nobody is upset Tony. It's just a different point of view and you are entitled to yours.

I love Jonny and the thing I like most of all about him is that he has a heart as big as a lion and despite not being the biggest player on the field, he will put himself out there no matter what faces him. He's a brave lad is our Jonny.

Another great signing in my opinion.

Fred, being a nice guy doesn't make you a good player. It seems that most people are in agreement though, that if you are a nice guy or come from Leigh then that's all that matters. I am mostly in agreement with old boy on this. From what I've seen Jonny has been very suspect under the high ball and always seems, not to lack confidence in him self but doesn't back himself when given a half chance like Kay and AJ seem to do with ball in hand. Must admit though, I wasn't a great AJ fan, but he's taken is chance well and proved me wrong.