Wednesday 27 January 2016 14:34, UK
St Helens head coach Keiron Cunningham has signed a new contract with the Super League side.
Cunningham, who has been in the job for a year, has extended his stay at his hometown club until the end of 2018.
The 39-year-old, who is immortalised in bronze through a life-size statue outside Langtree Park, made almost 500 appearances for Saints from 1994 to 2010 and played a key role in their dominance in the early years of Super League.
He joined the backroom staff when he retired and, after serving his apprenticeship, was the natural choice to succeed Australian Nathan Brown in the aftermath of Saints' 2014 Grand Final triumph.
In his first year in charge, Cunningham guided St Helens to a second-placed finish at the end of the regular season and to within 80 minutes of a return to Old Trafford.
Saints chairman Eamonn McManus said: "Keiron is a young, talented and ambitious British coach who, even at the very beginning of his career, has already won the absolute respect of his team and of all at his club.
"In his first season he took the team to within a whisker of another Grand Final and against the background of an injury ravaged campaign. He will continue to gain experience, as will his young side.
"No one knows the club, and its standards and its expectations, better than Keiron. The extension of his contract will bring stability to the club and enable him to implement longer term plans and strategy in addition to seeking immediate success."
Cunningham, who played for St Helens throughout his entire professional career, said: "I really enjoyed my first year as head coach at the club and I am looking forward to the future with this great group of players.
"It is an honour to coach my hometown club and we are well positioned for success in the coming seasons.
"I would like to thank Eamonn, Mike Coleman, Mike Rush and the board for agreeing to extend my deal; they have been steadfast in their support for me.
"I'm not just looking for this year, I'm looking to the future. I made the club a solemn oath that, however long I stay, whoever takes over after me will have a real good squad to work with and that's something I'm looking to build on.
"I've got a real good youthful squad that's gaining experience all the time. The prospect of working at this club for a long period excites anybody."
