MATTY Wildie will be staying with Leigh Centurions until the end of 2021.

In the few games Leigh played in 2020, Wildie was one of Leigh's stand-out performers with his workrate and versatility crucial to the plans of Head Coach John Duffy.

The 29-year-old came to Leigh from Bradford Bulls but has also played for Wakefield Trinity, Dewsbury and Featherstone Rovers as well as loan stints at Batley Bulldogs and Doncaster. During his career he has played at stand-off and scrum-half but more recently has specialised at hooker.

Duffy had coached Wildie at Featherstone so was very keen to bring him to Leigh for the 2020 campaign. He earned #HN1497 and quickly settled into life with the Centurions where his partnership with fellow hooker Liam Hood was a key feature of the Club's winning start to the Betfred Championship.

Wildie said: "I'm delighted to be staying at Leigh and I'm really looking forward to working with so many of the same lads from last season. I think in the games we played this year, we showed glimpses of what we're capable of and I can't wait to get started on preseason.

"We have a really good camp at Leigh and all credit goes to John Duffy for the atmosphere he has created and the close-knit group here. We all work hard for each other."

Asked about his relationship with fellow hooker Liam Hood, Wildie commented: "I think we complement each other really well and push each other to do better in training and on the pitch."

John Duffy was thrilled to have retained Wildie despite plenty of interest from other clubs. He said: "This is a big, big signing for us. Matty is one of the best pros I've ever worked with.

"In our games this season, Matty showed his class and we have done really well to get this deal over the line. I'm looking forward to seeing him work alongside Liam Hood again at nine because everything we do on the pitch starts with them. Matty and Liam are completely different animals but both offer the same threat."

Matty Wildie was sponsored in 2020 by Ask Platt Office Supplies Ltd.