Lawrence pens new Giants deal
Huddersfield Giants back rower, Michael Lawrence has signed a new 5-year deal which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2016 season.
The 21-year-old product of Newsome Panthers has already made 86 first team appearances for the Claret and Gold and is also a member of the England Knights squad.
Giants Managing Director Richard Thewlis commented that home grown talent, such as Lawrence, is key to the clubs long term strategy.
“The rules regarding the makeup of squads going forward means that locally produced players who have come through the ranks are critical to any potential success.
“When you have a player who is an England Knight and is very experienced in his age bracket then to keep him for the long term is an easy decision to make.
“Michael will get better and better at our club and for him to have long term security in what recent events show is an uncertain marketplace is great for him and his family.
“He has come through our academies and virtually by passed reserves to become a Super League regular which is great credit to him.”
Head Coach Nathan Brown is pleased to secure Lawrence’s services for the Giants for the long term:
“Michael is a local player whose game just keeps improving. Both at centre and in the back row he does a really good solid job and defensively he is an exceptional player. He is a good lad and a good role model for other young players.
“His training standards are high and his off field habits are as good as his on field habits. He works hard on his game and his commitment and effort cannot be doubted.”
Lawrence is delighted to have secured his long term future to his home town club:
“I’m really pleased that I’ve secured my future at the Giants. It is great to sign a long term deal alongside many of the other boys and it shows that the club want to keep the team together for the long term. This builds continuity and that bond and hopefully this can lead to some silverware.
“I am really proud to be continuing to play for my home town club, I am definitely happy here. I love Huddersfield, I never wanted to go anywhere else so I’m glad we could sort it all out.
“The fans are great for us with the numbers continuing to grow all the time. Our supporters play a massive part on a gameday and they’re definitely our 14th man.”