Ryan Benjafield re-signs for Workington
Last updated 12:27, Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Aussie prop Ryan Benjafield has landed a new deal with Workington Town.
Benjafield, who holds a British passport, has committed himself to Town for another year.
The former Rochdale player, left, who joined Town last November, missed some of this season’s NL2 campaign through injury but returned for the last few games.
And coach Dave Rotheram regards him as one of the key components to the squad he wants to build for next season.
“Ryan has performed very well this year. He has played NRL and Super League in the past and you can see that when he plays and in how he approaches the game,” said Rotheram.
“His attitude to training is really good and he plays a lot of minutes.
“He is also very well respected by his fellow professionals which says a lot.”
Benjafield lives in Wigan, where he is a school sports co-ordinator and travels up to West Cumbria to train and play.
He has been in England for the past five years, first coming over in September 2003, when he joined Super League Hull from NRL outfit Penrith Panthers, signing up with Brisbane’s Richard Swain, Castleford’s Michael Eagar, Halifax’s Shayne McMenemy and Cumbrian Peter Lupton, of Leeds.
The 26-year-old forward later went on loan to York and returned home to play for Asquith Magpies in the Jim Beam Cup.
The prop joined Rochdale for the 2006 season and was reportedly tracked by both Wakefield and Swinton before joining Town.
Rotheram is still in contract talks with a number of players from this season’s Town squad, as well as looking about for some fresh faces ahead of next year’s new NL2 campaign.
