NICKLAS PENS NEW HULL DEAL
Hull FC have today confirmed that promising young half back Danny Nicklas has signed a contract extension with the Black and Whites that will keep at the club until the end of the 2013 season.
Out of contract at the end of the current campaign, the 21-year-old scrum half or stand-off has been rewarded for several promising displays in the first team in Super League XVII with a new one-year deal after making seven appearances in the first team under head coach Peter Gentle this year.
And having previously playing three times for the Black and Whites since making his debut in 2010, Nicklas says he is now hoping to kick on at his hometown club and earn a regular spot in Gentle’s team next season.
Speaking to
www.hullfc.com, he said, “I’ve really enjoyed my opportunity in the first team this year and it’s something I’ve relished.
“I’ve been around the set-up now for a few years, but this is the first real chance I’ve had of pushing for a regular place in the side and I’ve played a few games which is great.
“I’m learning all the time and looking forward to continuing my development under Peter Gentle and from some of the senior players around me and I’m hopeful that another 12-months will give me chance to show that I’m worth a place in the team week in, week out.”
Penning his first professional deal with the club in 2010, Nicklas has long been tipped for a big future at the Black and Whites as a stand-out performer in the club’s under-20s, although his first team aspirations were dealt a cruel blow when he picked up a serious knee injury that kept him on the sidelines for much of last year.
Bouncing back to impress Gentle and his coaching staff in pre-season, Nicklas made the most of an injury to Brett Seymour to earn a starting spot in the 20-20 draw with Warrington in the first round of this year’s current Super League campaign and he has since gone on to make a further six appearances for the Black and Whites in 2012, as well as impressing for York City Knights on a dual registration deal.
And having seen Nicklas join the likes of Ben Crooks, Tom Lineham, Chris Green, Liam Kent and Josh Bowden as regulars in his side this year, FC head coach Peter Gentle said it was vitally important for the club to ensure its young home-grown talent remained at the KC Stadium in 2013 and beyond.
He said, “One thing we felt we lacked a little at the start of the year was a bit of depth across our squad and in key positions and that’s where you’re looking for your young blokes to stand up and take their chance.
“That has been epitomised by players like Danny and the other youngsters have stepped into our side and proved they can hold their own at this level, adding genuine competition for places.
“Furthermore, Danny’s versatility has also been valuable with us running him at half back and at hooker and he gives us an option in there which is very useful.”
Gentle added, “He is a likeable member of the team, who works very hard and has shown plenty of determination to bounce back from a serious injury and earn his spurs and that makes him the sort of player we want in our squad.”
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