Sheffield Eagles have confirmed that halfback Cory Aston has signed a new five-year deal with the club.
Aston has played in each of the first five games of the season so far, having made eight appearances last term.
He has come through the club’s academy system, and maintains the Eagles’ ethos of promoting South Yorkshire based youngsters into the first-team.
Eagles coach, and Cory’s father, Mark Aston explained why the club felt it was right to tie him to a long-term contract.
He said: “Cory is progressing along nicely. He played four games in 2013, eight games last year and has appeared in all five so far this season. He hasn’t looked out of place.
“He still has work to do, we know that, but he is only 20. We’re delighted he has committed his future to us.
“There were a number of people seeing his potential and looking to take him to their clubs, so we thought the time was right to offer him a five-year extension and keep him here for the foreseeable future.
“It shows our aspirations. Michael Knowles and Steve Thorpe have recently signed new deals and now Cory has too, which is great for the club.
“The five-year contract shows how much we value him. We need to get his best years out of him here in Sheffield, and it makes a statement of what we intend to do.
“He is delighted – he is born and bred in Sheffield and his dream was to play for the Eagles as a professional.
“He has done that – now he wants to cement his position in the first-team and play at the highest level he possibly can.
“Cory wants to play in Super League and the dream is for him to realise that while playing for us.”
