LEIGH Centurions have confirmed the permanent signing of winger or full-back Craig Mullen.

Mullen had been on loan at Leigh from Wigan Warriors for the 2020 season and Head Coach John Duffy was keen to keep him at the Sports Village for a further year.

The 22-year-old said that while 2020 had been a testing time for everyone, he thoroughly enjoyed his time with Leigh Centurions and was happy to be with the Club again in 2021.

He said: "We had a really good group last season and I think that we've added to it, assembling a really strong squad.

"We would have pushed hard for promotion last season had it not ended in the way that it did and I enjoyed being part of the group. We have a very competitive squad and there's a lot more depth now which is something that makes you more hungry to succeed as a player.

"I'm looking forward to getting stuck into pre-season training and blowing off the cobwebs."

Despite featuring in pre-season, Mullen is still to make his senior Centurions debut. Leigh Centurions Head Coach John Duffy says Mullen is a player he rates very highly. "Craig is someone with a big future in the game," he explained. "We saw him develop so well in a short period of time last season and we've only seen glimpses of what I believe he is capable of. He is so versatile, able to play in a number of positions, and that's something we will need during the course of the season.

"Craig is a nice kid and very popular within our group. During pre-season he was consistently the fittest in the group and I'm expecting him to push on again next year."

A product of the Blackbrook Royals community club, Mullen made his senior Wigan debut in 2018 against Wakefield Trinity before spending time on loan at Swinton Lions and London Skolars.

In 2016, he toured Australia with England Academy and in 2017 was a member of Wigan's Academy team which won the Grand Final.