I think that was correct on the 1 year deal, anything longer could have delayed the development transition of Welsby, Bennison and Hill in that full back position. In my opinion the club have done the right thing in taking those 3 players into account and are planning long term which other clubs don't do and go for a quick fix instead.
Confirmed 1 year extension. Fully deserved, let's be honest, the majority of the fans were extremely underwhelmed when he signed but since game 1 he has proved us all wrong. Very happy to see him go round again.
Fantastic news, great character on and off the pitch. Always reminds me of “Freddie”.
Made up for him to be given an extension. I think he gets the club and its fan base.
Clearly come on leaps and bounds since leaving Leeds.
Hope he kicks on now and goes even better for the rest of the year and next
Only 30 this man. Could be here for a good few years I was one of the few who thought he’d be alright but he’s exceeded that
Always really liked him, not even the rugby side. Even though he was at Leeds I couldn't dislike him, he's so engaging and he's been great for us. He's a player that really interacts with the crowd, both by his explosive runs on the pitch and by his great relationship with the fans. So pleased we've got him for at least another year.
Spot on. Now that he's working in a disciplined and organised club both he and the club are reaping the rewards. Just shows how Leeds must take a good look at themselves when Saints can release the great potential of this player yet Leeds couldn't. I shook his hand before the KR match and said "You need to stay" and he smiled and replied "hopefully", glad I swayed him, ha!
I think a great deal of credit goes to Woolf. Obviously knew him from the Tonga squad and everybody knew how devastating he could be at his best. Woolf backed his ability to get the best out of Hurrell as a coach and through the environment he has created, and he has been proven right.
I, like many others, was skeptical when we signed him. I loved him in the NRL but we all saw him turn into a lazy, immobile player at Leeds. The deal seemed like a free hit for everyone though. Massively reduced one year deal. If he’d flopped, we had a good back up player for a year and we walk away. If he succeeds, we get a top class player and he puts himself firmly back in the Tonga side and the shop window for a much improved deal either at Saints or somewhere else.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
He was devastating when he first went to Leeds but he was signed as a marquee and for whatever reasons on/off field his form went away. Here the spotlight and pressure is off him a little more. It's not like we need him to win us games on his own and he can do his thing. Glad he's signed again, works hard, offers something different and nice bloke off the field.
Seems to be a really nice person with an engaging personality. I think he pushed Ryan Hall’s boot back on after a tackle on Sunday! You have to be brave to stop him. Coote managed it but only by putting his body on the line, getting steamrollered and effectively tripping him with his body. I think some of us ought he would be useful backup but he’s been a regular throughout the season.
For me he has put himself at number 1 to partner Percy at centre. In defence he has worked hard and improved his awareness and positioning
Loyal and true, not a glory hunter.
Good points, at Leeds he was the “Ben Barba” of the team where the ball seemed to find its way to him, sometimes in blind hope that he would make something of it. A lot of weight on his shoulders, and he eventually became easy to take out of a game……
Here he is part of a group of those kind of players who can create so nobody wants to number up on him as it leaves too much space for others…..
This gives him more room and the opportunities that come with space.
Can't stop the spirits when they need you.
This life is more than just a read through.
I'm really pleased with Koni signing on again, in fact I've been impressed with our recruitment/retention this season. I was also one who questioned his signing originally.