WHITEHAVEN coach James Newton welcomed hooker Ellison Holgate’s decision to pen a contract extension to 2028.
Holgate, 26, crossed for a try as Dewsbury were beaten 34-12 in the Cumbrian side’s last home game of the regular season.
A fifth successive win strengthened Whitehaven’s hopes of making the play-offs and dented Dewsbury’s.
And Newton reckons play-off involvement would provide a great stage for Holgate to showcase his development since signing from amateurs Wath Brow Hornets ahead of last season.
“Ellison has been outstanding, and he’s still improving,” said Newton, himself a former Whitehaven hooker.
“He’s showing himself to be one of the best players to come out of the amateur scene up here in recent times, and he’s going to be a big part of what I want to do.”
Whitehaven travel to Barrow on Sunday and Newton added: “We need to cut out the kind of errors and rushed play which allowed Dewsbury to get back into the game.
“Defensively, I thought we were well connected and where we needed to be at, and that’s what got us over the line.”