Castleford Tigers hooker Paul McShane has signed a new deal, keeping him at the club until 2019.
The hooker joined the club midway through the 2015 season from Wakefield and was under contract with the club until the end of 2017.
However, an impressive season for the Tigers has resulted in a new deal for the former Leeds Rhinos star, who has made over 150 career appearances.
McShane was ever-present for the Tigers in 2016, playing 32 games and scoring seven tries. He covered a number of roles for Castleford including half back after injuries forced Daryl Powell to make some unorthodox changes to his team.
“It’s a big thing for my family to be re-signing with the Tigers,” said McShane.
“My wife loves it at this club and that makes it a lot easier for me. From day one coming in midway through last year, I knew it was a club that was for me. The way that people are around here is great.”
“You come in every day with a group of good people and all they want to do is make you better and that’s throughout the coaches, players and everyone else at the club.
“Then you come to game day and you’ve got the fans. When you come to training sometimes at seven or eight in the morning you’re guaranteed to see a couple of Cas shirts walking around the streets and to have fans like that who back you as a team that much, it’s just something I want to be a part of.”
Head coach Daryl Powell added: “Paul McShane has always been a very good player but I thought we started to see how good he can really be towards the middle and back end of last season. He is a natural ball player who understands the game very well. I have no doubt he is going to improve and although he has a host of competition at international level, I think he is one of the most natural hookers in Rugby League and should strive to attain that level. I look forward to working with him during his extended contract and I’m delighted he wants to stay at the Tigers”
Tigers CEO, Steve Gill said: “Paul has become one of the fans favourites and has been a key figure in our squad since joining us from Wakefield. I’m really pleased he has committed to the Tigers for a further two years.”