YORK City Knights winger AJ Towse has been shortlisted for the Betfred Championship's young player of the year award.

Towse has enjoyed a breakthrough season at York this year, proving himself as a more-than-capable stand-in for Will Oakes, who has played just nine times in 2022 through injury.

The former Heworth amateur has scored eight tries in 16 appearances this season for the Knights, who have secured a return to the Championship play-offs after finishing sixth.

The 19-year-old's scoring efforts have seen him bagged braces against Newcastle Thunder, London Broncos and Whitehaven this term.

Towse is named on the three-player shortlist which also includes prop forward Sam Eseh, who has featured on loan at Featherstone Rovers and Barrow Raiders this year from Wakefield Trinity, and London Broncos half-back Oli Leyland.

Eseh has played 18 times for Featherstone and Barrow, scoring three tries for the former and five for the latter, while Leyland has racked up 47 goals and two tries during 25 appearances for London.

The winner will be announced on Monday, September 26 at the Betfred Championship and League One awards ceremony, which will be streamed live on Our League.

Elsewhere, Leigh Centurions pair John Asiata and Edwin Ipape have been shortlisted for the Championship player of the year alongside Halifax Panthers' Joe Keyes and Tee Ritson of Barrow.

Paul Crarey (Barrow), Simon Grix (Halifax) and Adrian Lam (Leigh) are the trio in the running for Championship coach of the year.

Voting was conducted by a poll of the head coaches in each competition, producing a top three in each category.