YORK Knights’ top-scorer AJ Towse has signed a new one-year deal to remain at the club for 2024.

Towse, a product of NCL amateurs Heworth enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Knights last term, and has only built on that throughout 2023.

The 20-year-old left winger has been an ever present in Andrew Henderson’s side, scoring 20 times in 34 appearances this term.

Such has been his consistency, he is the only player to have featured in every single match as the Knights secured a remarkable second consecutive play-off spot for the first time since the club’s reformation.

Towse first joined the Knights in 2021, scoring once in two appearances before loan spells at Rochdale Hornets and Midlands Hurricanes.

But it was the following year that the young talent introduced himself, scoring eight times in 18 appearances in place of the injured Will Oakes.

That saw Towse earn a Betfred Championship Young Player of the Year nomination, and handed the number five shirt for 2023.

Towse’s tries this term included a hat-trick against now-Super League London Broncos and braces against both Whitehaven and Swinton Lions.

He was voted as the Knights Supporters’ Society’s Player of the Year, but once again missed out on the Championship Young Player of the Year to the Broncos’ Bill Leyland.

Towse was excited to have extended his stay, saying: “It’s great to have re-signed with my hometown club, having really enjoyed this season here at the club.

“To get the opportunity to play week-in, week-out this season has been awesome, especially around this set of lads.

“We had a really good year in 2023 and I’m excited to see what we can do next year!”

Head coach Henderson also spoke of his delight to retain Towse’ services.

“I’m really pleased to have retained AJ for the 2024 season,” he enthused.

“AJ is a homegrown talent, who showed people what he was about in 2022 when he made his breakthrough into the first-team and in 2023, he was an ever-present, which is only going to bode well for his development

“AJ is someone that showed a lot of progression and growth in his game in 2023 and I still believe that there is more he can learn and more room for him to develop.

“I’m really excited that myself and the rest of the coaching staff will have the opportunity to work further with AJ and hopefully he’ll continue to progress on his journey here at York.”