Leigh Centurions are pleased to confirm that prop forward Joe Bullock has agreed a contract extension with the Club and has signed a one-year full-time contract which is due to start on 1 December 2014. The Club has the option of a further year at its discretion.

Blackpool born Bullock, 21, learnt his rugby with Blackpool Scorpions and had a spell as a junior with Leigh before joining Wigan's Under-18s. He played originally as a winger but has since made the transition to the pack. He made his first-team bow as a dual registered player with South Wales Scorpions in 2012 but after being released by Wigan at the end of 2012 he returned to Leigh and made seven appearances in 2013. This season he has impressed during a season-long loan with Barrow Raiders and has so far made 18 appearances for the fellow Kingstone Press Championship club.

Leigh Centurions Head Coach Paul Rowley said: "Joe is a big, athletic player who we see as a long-term project. He started off with us, then went to Wigan but since coming back to the LSV he has made big strides. Barrow have been delighted with him this year and we have been closely monitoring his performances for them.

"Joe is an up and coming player who will really benefit from going full-time. He fits into the category of five or six young players- including Chris Hankinson and Jamie Tracey- that we are looking to develop. Playing at Barrow he has toughened up to the weekly rigours of the Championship. He has the raw ingredients and we aim to bring out his full potential."

Leigh Centurions Head of Rugby Derek Beaumont said: "Joe has done well at Barrow and we believe he is an investment for the future. We believe that being in a full-time environment will be in his best interests and shows we are prepared to do what we need to do to get him to be the player we want him to be.

"Joe is another young player that we have developed from within that we believe will grow into a valuable player for Leigh Centurions. It is important that whilst our initial aim is to get into Super League and to recruit the players to achieve that in the short term, that we also focus on our youngsters and keep them with us so that our excellent coaching team can bring them through for the future." ​

Great news

Like this one, signing for the future.

Good. I think this lad will prosper under FT and is the fastest forward we have.

Excellent signing - an athlete with great potential.
Pleased to see he is very much part of the plan.
With great respect to Barrow he needs to feel a bigger part of the Leigh club and if on loan, then with a better Championship club that will genuinely enhance his development.

Now this is a super signing, for superleague. Surely nobody can pick holes in this capture. Be good to see bullock back in a leigh jersey next year.

Great news a Lad from the Promised Land , I have been a fan of Joe for a while ,he seems to have filled out a fair bit and has done well at Barrow , you cant whack a bit of Ginger .Charlie knows .