John Cookson is one of a rare breed of players. He is from Blackburn, just
25 miles from Leigh but not an area renowned for producing rugby league
players. Now in his fourth season with the club, John will be looking for
more first team rugby. He was chosen to go on the club's pre-season trip to
Spain after an impressive close season. Such was his form in training that
John made his top grade debut on the opening night of Leigh's 2006 campaign
on the Fylde coast at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool. That night he began the
game in the front row opposite old stagers Tommy Hodgkinson and Lee Hansen.
A prop or second row, Cookson is a powerful player with a strong running and
offload game which he was rarely allowed to show last season.
John originally joined the club in 2004 when as a 19 year old he quickly
became an important member of Mark Bailey's squad. That proved an excellent
season for Leigh's youngsters as they topped the league and then won the
Grand Final with a 36-10 victory against Featherstone in a team that
included the likes of Radney Bowker and Mike Govin.
Most of that first season, Cookson played in a talented second row that also
included the likes of current first team player Tommy Grundy and current
Welsh international Anthony Blackwood.
In 2005, Cookson was outstanding for the Centurions Senior Academy, again
playing the majority of his rugby at second row. As Leigh went toe to toe
with some of the best talent in the country, John again displayed his
strength and powerful running. Regularly John was amongst the top three
performers in a team that improved as the season went on. More than once,
his name was mentioned for inclusion to the first team but the call did not
come until Tony Benson took charge for the 2006 season.
By now John was starting to make an impression in the front row and went on
to appear in seven first team games. Once more he proved a formidable
opponent in the Senior Academy team before his season ended in disappointing
fashion with dismissal in a hammering at Widnes.
Since then, Cookson has returned strongly, looking fresh and hungry. He
played two friendly games for the club in two days for the club. During one
weekend in late January 2007, John appeared from the bench at St Helens and
then starring in a 44-16 win over Blackpool.
