Huddersfield Giants halfback Oliver Russell has signed a new deal with the club.
Russell, 21, has put pen to paper on a new two-year contract that will keep him with the club until the end of 2022.
He joins fellow Huddersfield Academy products Sam Hewitt, Jake Wardle, the Senior twins and Jon-Luke Kirby in signing new contracts in recent months.
Russell made his debut for the club in 2018 and has made 20 appearances, notably kicking a key field-goal as the Giants won against Leeds at Headingley in just his second professional game.
“I think the main reason I’ve re-signed is that I’m happy at the club,” he said.
“I’m growing as a player under the coaching staff and I’m learning from the older players Lee Gaskell and Aidan Sezer, which is helping my development.
“There’s also a good bunch of young lads that can do something quite special if we stick together. Obviously seeing that Sam Hewitt, Jake Wardle, Innes Senior, Louis Senior and Jon-Luke Kirby re-sign, made my decision so much easier. We had a decent side together last year in the Academy and it gives me hope that we can pull that form together in a couple of years.
“The club is also making some good moves elsewhere to bring in a crop of young players, while signing some great talents like Ashton Golding.”
“I’m aiming to get a starting shirt in the halfbacks, while learning from Gaskell and Sezer will help me at the moment. I definitely want to fight for a starting shirt in the next couple of years.
“While obviously the break has not been ideal, I’ve treated it like a mini-pre-season. I’m fit and ready to go whenever we need to go, but it’s been nice to spend time with the family. I’ve been missing time with the lads though and I’m excited to get back training with them.”
