O'Meley Agrees New Hull FC Deal

Former Australian Test prop and State of Origin star Mark O’Meley will wear the famous Black and White irregular hoops once again next season after signing a new one-year contract with Hull FC.

The hard hitting forward, who joined the club back in 2010 alongside fellow NRL star and former club captain Craig Fitzgibbon, has been back to his powerful best in recent weeks and has been rewarded with a new deal, as exclusively revealed this morning by the Hull FC Grapevine.

Out of contract at the end of the season, the Ogre, as he is affectionately known by supporters around the world, had a number of options available to him both in Super League and back in Australia, but having set up home in East Yorkshire he’s decided the KC Stadium is the place to be.

“I had some decisions to make as we came towards the end of the season, which included the potential to head home with the family, but it just didn’t seem like the right time to be leaving,” said O’Meley, who has proven to be a firm fans favourite since signing from the Sydney Roosters.

“Other clubs made offers too, but I’m settled here, I enjoy playing for the club and I’m really excited about what the future holds.

“Both the new owner Adam Pearson and the coach Peter Gentle speak passionately about what they want to achieve here and as a player that is something you want to be part of.

“You never lose that ambition or competitive edge, I’ve played in Origin, for Australia and won the Premiership, but you always want more and to win in Super League or the Challenge Cup would be very special.”

He continued, “I think all the players can see that is what the club are working towards and I believe we can achieve that here, not just next season but starting now as we enter the play offs.

“Sunday will be a big game for us with home advantage at the KC Stadium, it’s a great place to play your footy and it’s a privilege to be able to do that again for another season.”

O’Meley’s made 61 appearances for the Black and Whites, scoring 10 tries during that time, his most recent coming only last week as he crossed against Castleford Tigers.

Whilst unfortunate injuries have hampered his progression in 2012, he has been back to his best in the final few rounds of Super League, form that head coach Peter Gentle hopes he can carry into the play-offs as well as next season.

“I think Mark has proven to everyone in recent weeks that he is more than deserving of a new deal with the club and shown us all the passion and enthusiasm he brings to our side.

“He’s been a committed, hard hitting front rower all his career and he still packs a significant punch, which will complement our forward line next season.

“Having maybe not played the number of games both the club and the player would have liked this year, we threw down the gauntlet to Mark earlier in the season to show us he was worthy of a new contract and I think he has certainly delivered.

“He’s now had a month back playing after injury and is starting to show he is more than capable of playing at this level and he’ll only continue to improve the more games he gets under his belt.”

Gentle added, “We look forward to him continuing that sort of form in the play offs and 2013 and sharing his experience with the younger members of the squad around him.”

Source: hullfc.com
Photo Credit: SWpix.com