Former Wests Tigers forward and Italian Brenden Santi has signed a new contract until 2024 to continue his rugby league career.
Santi, 30, will rejoin the York Knights next season after signing a short-term deal with them in June. The Knights compete in the Betfred Championship (also known as the Rugby Football League Championship) – the second tier of England’s Super League.
A member of Italy and the national team at three previous Rugby League World Cups, Santi is a former Australian schoolboy captain and NRL forward who played 11 games for the Wests Tigers in 2014-15.
He also spent time in the Canterbury Bulldogs junior system and the Parramatta Eels (2014), but failed to register a single NRL first-grade match for either team. His career also includes spells with the Townsville Blackhawks in the QLD Cup, Toulouse Olympique de France, Newcastle Thunder and Keighley Cougars.
andquot;I am very excited about 2024 and I am delighted to sign a new contract with the club!andquot; he said on the club’s website.
andquot;Coming from Keighley it felt like home, coming straight into a group with a big crowd.
andquot;I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far and at the end of last season we had real momentum behind us to make the play-offs.
andquot;Everything about York is really exciting for me and I think we have some work to do after last year’s finals. Hopefully we can make a step forward in 2024!andquot;
York Knights boss Andrew Henderson would talk about Santi’s renewed commitment to the club as they look to improve in 2024 after reaching the Betfred Championship finals, winning ten of their last 11 games.
“I am very pleased to have acquired the services of Brendenand#039 for the 2024 season and to see him continue his journey with the York Knights.
“I didn’t hesitate to bring Brenden in when he became a free agent in the middle of last season because I had worked with him before and knew what kind of person and player he was.
“Brenden has acquitted himself very well since joining the club and has added real value to our forward pack and transformed us at the right time for the season.
“Brenden is another player who wants to be part of our journey and help us continue to grow as part of our Betfred Super League aspirations.”
