A man integral to the success of the Sharks in 2016, Matt Prior has today signed a new three-year contract that will see him remain at the club until at least the end of the 2020 season.
The joint Sharks Player of the Year with fellow front rower Andrew Fifita last season, Prior has been a leader of the Sharks pack over the last two years with his contract extension a boost for the club going forward.
Prior inked the new deal earlier today and was pleased to now be able to shift his full focus back to the on-field action.
“It’s a massive relief and I’m glad it’s done now. I can focus on footy and concentrate on the year,” Prior told Sharks TV. “Hopefully the rest of the boys stay and we can keep the good times going here at the Sharks.”
With his bruising defence always a feature of his game, Prior transformed into being equally effective with ball in hand, with his form seeing him spoken about as a potential representative player.
Now in his 10th season in the NRL and his fourth at the Sharks, Prior is now recognised amongst the senior brigade and with the likes of Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington unsure if their careers with go on past the current season, becomes a senior member of the Sharks side.
“It’s (leadership and mentoring) something I’ll have to take on board and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Prior added.
In his four years at the Sharks Prior has played 60 matches and 180 in total in the NRL after playing six seasons at the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Sharks TV spoke with Prior shortly after he had put pen to paper on his contract extension.
