Wests Tigers have confirmed the re-signing of key forward Elijah Taylor for a further two years.
Taylor has enjoyed a career renaissance at the NRL club since being released from Penrith midway through last season, and is now considered an integral part of their line-up.
“As our members and fans witnessed during the back half of the 2016 season, Elijah considerably strengthened our roster and we are really excited to have him extend his time with the club,” Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said on Monday.
“Elijah is a player of high calibre and a real asset to our club – he has represented his country on a number of occasions and possesses the attributes, both on and off the field, that we value at Wests Tigers.”
Despite being linked with a return to rugby union, the 26-year-old Taylor was delighted to stay on at Concord, where he is expected to start next season in the No.13 jumper.
He was rewarded for his strong club form by being named in New Zealand’s extended squad for their recent Four Nations campaign in England.
He paid tribute to the Tigers’ coaching staff for believing in his talent, and also pointed out how a pre-season with the playing group will benefit his play next year.
“It didn’t take me too long to settle in here at the club, the boys were all really welcoming and the coaching staff really believed in me and supported me,” he said.
“I really enjoyed that aspect and it made my transition so much easier, so to now get a pre-season under my belt with the team will really help going into 2017.
“It’s been really eye-opening to play with some of these young guys, they have a lot of confidence and their enthusiasm really rubs off on you as an older player.”
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