Warrington beat off NRL interest to retain Harvey Livett
Photo courtesy of Richard Long
Harvey Livett has agreed a new two-year deal with Warrington, despite NRL clubs sniffing around the promising back-rower.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks at the Wolves, before signing professional terms with the club in 2016.
He made his Super League debut last season and has since made 22 first team appearances, scoring 13 tries and kicking 25 goals. He scored a hat-trick in Warrington’s win over Leeds Rhinos recently.
Livett, who will now stay at the club until the end of 2020, said it was never in his intentions to leave.
He said: “I had a few other options but I’m a Warrington lad and I always wanted to stay with the club.
“When I was growing up, I used to go to home and away games watching the team, so it means a lot to wear the shirt each week. All my family are from Warrington and it means a lot to play for my hometown club.
“I’m looking forward to the next two years and I’m confident we can win some silverware in that time. We’re looking good this year in the league and are still in the Challenge Cup, so hopefully we can challenge for both this season.”
Warrington coach Steve Price is a keen admirer of Livett and is made up to see the back-rower extend his stay.
He said: “I’ve been pleased with Harvey since he came into the playing group after the unfortunate injury to Ben Currie.
“As everyone saw he had a great game against Leeds but the challenge now is to be consistent and become a regular first team player.
“There’s much more improvement and growth in Harvey Livett as a rugby league player and I am excited that he’s stayed loyal.
“He didn’t want to go anywhere else. He’s a local junior and he loves playing for the Warrington Wolves.”
Wolves chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick revealed that the club had to fend off interest from the NRL to keep Livett.
He said: “It is great to retain a product of our academy system.
“This is an area we have significantly invested in over recent years. We had to beat off NRL interest to keep Harvey at our club.
“With the current scholarship system team going unbeaten this season, we are confident there will be many more homegrown players progressing into the first team in the future.”