Thursday 6 October 2016 16:38, UK
Former Huddersfield and Leeds hooker Shaun Lunt has become the first Hull KR player to pledge his future to the club following their relegation from Super League.
The 29-year-old Lunt signed a four-year contract with Rovers 14 months ago after joining them initially on loan from Huddersfield but that became null and void after they were relegated to the Kingstone Press Championship for 2017.
Lunt, who played for England in 2009 and was a Grand-Final winner with Leeds in 2012, would have been in big demand as a free agent but he has now committed himself to the Robins at least for next year.
Lunt said: "It was always my intention to stay at the club next season should the worst happen and I'm pleased that everything has been sorted out so quickly.
"As far as I'm concerned, I was part of the team that got the club relegated and I want to be part of the team that gets the club promoted back up to Super League again."
Hull KR are to stay full-time in the Championship under new head coach Tim Sheens but say staff in the football department have agreed to take voluntary pay cuts next season to help preserve jobs.
Head of rugby Jamie Peacock, who came out of retirement in an effort to help save the club from relegation, said: "Shaun is a hugely important player for us and he was one of the players in the squad we were most eager to keep.
"He's a consistent performer, a leader out on the pitch and a true professional off the field so to have him on board for 2017 is a really big boost for the club and hopefully several more of his team-mates will follow suit in the coming days. Those discussions are on-going.
"We'd like to keep a core of the side from this year and to have an international-class hooker playing for us in the Championship next season is a really good start.
"For the staff in the football department to take a voluntary pay cut next season also demonstrates their commitment to the cause and it's important that we all stick together and do everything we can to bounce back."
