New Saints deal for Matty Lees

England Knights prop Matty Lees has signed a new three-year deal at St Helens.

Lees, 20, played 19 times for Saints last season and was nominated for the Super League Young Player of the Year award, before touring Papua New Guinea with the Knights.

He said: “I’m really happy to have signed a new deal with such a great club. I’d like to thank the coaching staff for giving me the chance to make my debut in 2017 and play 19 times in 2018.

“I still feel I have a lot of learning to do but I do know that St Helens is the best environment to do that in. We have a great coaching team and players here and they will help me develop further.

“I’m really looking forward to kicking on in 2019 and having what we all hope will be a successful season.”

Lees, who played his amateur rugby at Rochdale Mayfield before moving to Saints at the age of 16, is now committed to the club until the end of 2021.

Coach Justin Holbrook said: “Matty is a great young player who showed that he is more than capable of performing at the highest level in Super League last season.

“He is an exciting talent who is professional and keen to improve and develop.

“I’m really excited about seeing him do that this season and beyond.”