Keiron Cunningham's delight at penning new St Helens deal

Oct 3 2008

ST HELENS captain Keiron Cunningham finally signed a new contract with his home-town club yesterday – shortly before reaching what he hopes will be the climax of his distinguished career.

Cunningham, who turns 32 later this month, had been considering retirement but yesterday gave his commitment to play one more season by signing a 12-month deal.

The former Wales and Great Britain hooker is Saints’ longest-serving player by a distance and will lead them in both his and the club’s sixth Grand Final against Leeds at Old Trafford tomorrow as they aim to complete a clean sweep of the major domestic trophies.

“It would be very special,” said Cunningham, who joined the club in 1994 from Wigan St Judes. “It’s been a dream of mine to captain Saints since I was seven.

“I’ve played here since I was 16 so it’s taken me a long time to get the captain’s armband. I managed to pry it away from Paul Sculthorpe and I’ve had some successful times since.”

Cunningham, who led Saints to their recent back-to-back Challenge Cup triumphs at Wembley after playing in the winning sides of 1996 and 1997, has been in inspirational form this year and was named in the Super League Dream Team for the seventh time out of a possible 13.

“I spoke to the chairman (Eamonn McManus) and (chief executive) Tony Colquitt earlier in the year about going around again and I said I would consider it if I felt I was in good enough condition towards the end of the season,” he said. “I didn’t want to get to a point were I was just dragging myself around a field. But my form has been good this year and I feel I can carry on for another season. I am excited about the challenges that a new coach and new players will bring to the club.”

Tomorrow’s final will mark the end of an era, with coach Daniel Anderson and fitness expert and former player Apollo Perelini leaving the club, while Willie Talau and Nick Fozzard will play their last games and Paul Sculthorpe and Mick Bennett have already hung up their boots due to injury. But Cunningham is set to add to his staggering total of 436 appearances, which have brought 163 tries and have been crucial in Saints’ dominance of the Super League era.

He was recently voted Saints’ greatest-ever player and the club will mark his immense contribution by erecting a bronze statue of him outside their planned new stadium.

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said: “We are all delighted that Keiron will be staying with us for another season at least. He has been Super League’s outstanding player for more than a decade and his influence on the club and the game cannot be overstated. He epitomises the club – he is an out-and-out winner but handles it with modesty and dignity.”

Meanwhile, Cunningham believes his side are better placed to lift the Super League trophy this time and make amends for last year’s bitter 33-6 defeat by the Rhinos.

Saints are clear favourites to regain the title but the veteran hooker insists there will be no complacency on this occasion.

He said: “It was a painful defeat last year. I think we believed our press a bit too much - that we were favourites and we just had to turn up.

“Leeds were hitting some real good form at the back end, as they are this year, and you’ve got to take your hat off to them.

“There are no real favourites or underdogs when Leeds and St Helens meet.

“A fortnight ago we played very well and Leeds will think they can improve in a lot of areas.

“But all that has happened in the past goes out of window. We all know what happens in finals, it’s literally whoever turns out best on day wins.

Of tomorrow Cunningham said: “We’re healthy and raring to go. The two weekends we’ve had off have been good for us.”