Prop forward Matty Lees has signed a two year contract extension at St Helens, keeping him at the club until the end of 2022.

Lees, played his amateur rugby at Rochdale Mayfield and joined up with the club at the age of 16. His first team debut followed in 2017 and he cemented his place in the first team squad a year later playing 19 times under former coach Justin Holbrook.

In 2019, he picked up Saints’ and Super League’s Young Player of the Year award. 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.

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 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.”

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.”