Exciting young Hull FC winger Callum Lancaster has signed his first full-time contract with the Airlie Birds – despite lucrative offers from several of the Super League club’s rivals.
The 17-year-old made his first team debut this season, scoring eight tries in five appearances after being called up to cover injuries.
His new deal will see him stay with the black and whites until 2017.
“I am very pleased to be committing myself to the club and by staying at Hull I feel I’m in the best place to improve my game in the future,” Lancaster told the Hull FC website.
“It is a great opportunity for me and hopefully I will get a few more games next season. Now I have had the taste of Super League I want more, and if I get the chance again I feel I will be able to show what I can do.
“Lee [Radford] has been really good for me and tells me exactly where I need to improve, he gave me my first chance and I am really looking forward to carry on working for him.
“With Jack [Logan], Jordan [Abdull] and a few of the other lads signing contracts recently as well, I think we can all push each other on in the first team.
“If we all thrive off what each other is doing then there will be good competition between us, which will help to develop our game even more.
“I’m going to have a challenge to get into the side, but I’m confident that when I get the opportunity I will be able to take it with both hands.”
Coach Lee Radford added: “I’m really pleased to get Callum signed to a three-year deal, which again shows the value we have in fielding and producing our own young players that have come through our system, which I’m sure he will be just one of many more to come over the next few years.
“In the five games he played last year, he showed signs of real quality and potential. He is blessed with pace and a natural try scoring ability and we now have time to develop and hone that over the next three years.
“It has taken a little longer than expected due to the fact there has been a fair bit of interest in getting Callum signed up from around the competition.
“He has been made some very good offers from other clubs, but we stuck to our wage structure that Adam, Motu and myself put in place on day one of taking the job which we feel is fair, sustainable and rewards players for their consistency, effort and performances.
“We aren’t prepared to break the system for any player, which I certainly don’t think has been the case previously.
“Therefore it speaks volumes of the kid that he has come back to the club to agree a deal with us for a value far less than he was offered elsewhere, which shows his desire to play for Hull FC and wear the famous black and white shirt, despite plenty of rumours to the contrary.
“He wants to play for his hometown club and is determined to become a big player for us, which he now has every opportunity to do with the right approach and commitment to his performances and training.
“He’ll certainly be putting some pressure on the blokes ahead of him throughout pre-season and all the players know they’ll be rewarded for their efforts in training with a place in the team come those first few games.”
