WORKINGTON TOWN coach Jonty Gorley is delighted to have three key players secured on contract extensions – and extra happy they are each for two years.
Scrum-half or hooker Jamie Doran, backrow Jack Ainley and prop Grant Reid are staying.
Jack Stephenson, Jake Bradley, Zarrin Galea, Jude Lupton, Braden Leigh and Tyce Walmsley were already contracted for next season.
Gorley said: “Getting players on two-year deals is fantastic.
“In the past a lot of the West Cumbrian lads, whether at Workington or Whitehaven, have signed one-year deal after one-year deal, so the clubs are doing the same thing every twelve months in terms of talking and renegotiating, and it’s refreshing when they sign for longer.
“When they do that I know they are happy and they’re content here and can just concentrate on their rugby.
On the trio of players, Gorley added: “Jamie is probably the most experienced player we’ve got, and his knowledge and skill set is invaluable to how we progress as a team in the future. He is Town through and exactly what we need.
“Jack is a big thing, still developing and he runs a good line and can bounce out of tackles and cause problems.
“He’s got a couple of things he needs to work on but that said, he’s in his first year and has impressed me, the coaching staff and his teammates.
“At the end of last season, I wasn’t going to retain Grant because he was overweight and did not meet the fitness needed for this level.
“But a few weeks later, I offered him a pay-as-you-play contract, with a condition that he had to work on his fitness. He’s certainly done that and the transformation is very impressive.”