Talented prop forward Matty Lees has signed a two year contract extension at St.Helens R.F.C. which will keep him at the Club until at least the end of the 2022 season.
Matty went from strength to strength in 2019, playing long and impressive minutes in the forward pack. He was named Super League’s Young Player of the Year and also took away the same award at the Saints Awards Dinner.
Unfortunately his season was cut short and he missed out on the Wembley Challenge Cup Final and Super League Grand Final after he perforated a bowel against Leeds Rhinos. Wayne Bennett had confirmed he would have been called up for Great Britain had he not picked up the injury.
But Lees has been back firing in 2020, making 18 appearances this season so far. In total he has played 65 times, scoring two tries.
On signing his new deal, Lees said: “I am made up. To be given the opportunity to stay here for another two years is great and I am really looking forward to what the future may hold.
“I want to thank everyone at the Club, Eamonn [McManus], Mike Rush, Kristian [Woolf] for giving me the opportunity to stay here. My parents and partner have been a big help, especially given what happened with my injury last year and I want to thank them too for helping me through to this point.
“I am enjoying my time here and it was a no-brainer to stay. The Club has been great with me, especially last year with my injury and I now want to re-pay them in the next two years.”
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴!
Matty Lees is the next Saint to extend his stay until 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮! ✍️#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/IyhIlRvRPq
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) November 9, 2020
Head Coach Kristian Woolf added: “I am very pleased we have been able to tie down Matty. I love Matty’s physicality and toughness. He isn’t the biggest of props, but he makes up for it with the way he throws his body around both with and without the ball.
“James Graham has also had a big influence on Matty’s development this year. He has been able to learn from him and has progressed to take on more responsibility, as a starter in the forwards.
“We see Matty as a guy who will progress into a future international and a guy who can lead our pack in the future as one of the number one props in the competition.
Lees’ signing follows that of Morgan Knowles who extended his Saints stay last week and Woolf admits the pair love working together.
“Morgan Knowles signed with us last week too, continued Woolf.
“Both he and Matty love to work together, do extras together and challenge each other and they will both be top end players because of that drive.”
Lees will look to play a part in next week’s Betfred Super League Semi Final before hopefully representing Saints in his first Grand Final.
