JAKE Emmitt has signed a one year contract extension with Leigh Centurions.

The deal keeps the former St Helens, Castleford Tigers and Salford Red Devils front rower at Leigh Sports Village until November 2018.

Leigh Centurions Head Coach Paul Rowley said: “I am very pleased that Jake has signed a new deal to stay at the Club. I know he is popular amongst the fans and equally within the team.

“He's been a very valuable and consistently high performer for us and has been very loyal and trusting to myself. He is a pleasure to coach, a quality player and, more importantly, a quality person.”

Leigh Centurions Owner Derek Beaumont said: “Jake is one of those players that go unnoticed by a lot of people but never his opposition.

"I recall when Ashton Sims was ‘miked’ up for the Challenge Cup game and went over to Jake asking him where he got that engine.

“Jake is ever present in the club end-of-year awards ceremonies which is testament to his popularity.

"He is a really nice guy and always extremely polite and professional and I am proud to have him in our team as he is an extremely valuable part of Rolls’ squad.”

A Welsh international who hails from Warrington, he originally played for Leigh on dual registration from St Helens in 2010.

He then returned to the club after spells at Castleford and Salford.

In playing for Leigh, he has followed in the footsteps of his late grandfather Lionel Emmitt who made his debut on the wing for Leigh in 1959 after signing from Blackpool Borough.

Emmitt, 27, capped an outstanding season back with the Centurions by being voted Touchdown Club Player of the Year in 2014.

Continuing his consistent form he was voted Player of the Year by both Super-Leigh Lottery and LCTV in 2015 after another stand-out campaign.

To date he has made 74 appearances for the club, with 13 tries and one goal.