WHITEHAVEN hooker Thomas Coyle says he is delighted to be back on board for the 2016 season after signing a new one-year deal at The Recreation Ground.

Both Coyle and prop forward Stephen Fox have committed their futures to the club next year.

As Haven have signed both Nathan Lucock and Liam Carberry for the 2016 season, Coyle is looking forward to the challenge of getting a place in the side.

“It’s going to be tough with there now being four hookers in the side,” he said.

“There’s plenty of competition there now and I think that’s what me and Newts [James Newton] needed last season.

“We knew when Owain [Griffiths] was brought into the squad that we’d need to train well because he was after a place in the side.

“I’m really looking forward to the new year and I’ve enjoyed my first season at the club.”

Coyle made 27 appearances for the club, scoring one try, after signing from the then-promoted Hunslet Hawks.

“It’s been a good year,” he continued. “It was tough at the beginning when Deaks [Steve Deakin] left but James [Coyle] stepped up and has done a good job.

“I think he struggled at the start because he was doing everything himself so Peter Williams has been a massive help.

“It’s another pair of eyes for him and we’ll have Matty Johnson with us for the full season too which also helps.”

Reflect on his side’s relegation battle at the end of the year, Coyle believes that the club shouldn’t have been in that position.

“We had a few injuries and we lost a couple of games we really shouldn’t have done, like the fixture against Hunslet at home,” he added.

“We shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place but this time round we have a bigger squad and we’re all ready to get started with pre-season.”