The Canberra Raiders have secured forward Jarrad Kennedy for the next two seasons, after he agreed to terms on a new deal until the end of the 2017 season.
Kennedy has been with the Raiders since he was a junior and was an instrumental part of the clubs inaugural NYC premiership winning team, where he scored the match winning try in the Grand Final in 2008.
Since moving into the NRL squad Kennedy has proven his worth to the Raiders forward pack and has been rewarded with a place in the team for the opening four rounds of the 2015 season.
Kennedy said he couldn’t be happier to remain in Canberra and said his progression into the NRL squad was testament to the club's junior development program.
“I’m very excited to re-sign with the club for a further two years," Kennedy said. "I see the Raiders as not just a football club but as a part of my family now. Canberra is my home and I’m over the moon to be here for another two years, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“I’ve come up through the juniors here and I feel right at home. It’s great to see that a lot of the players that I played with in the juniors are still playing with me now and it feels like they’re my brothers now.
Kennedy has shown his versatility over the first few weeks of the season and said he’s comfortable playing wherever the team and Coach Ricky Stuart need him.
“Second row is my preferred position but after Ricky tried me out in the centres it’s definitely something that I can put on my resume. I love being a forward but I’m happy to help the team out in the centres if need be.”
Raiders CEO Don Furner said it was fantastic news for the Raiders to secure another player who was developed by the club and said he looked forward to more improvement from Kennedy over the next two seasons.
“Jarrad is a very hardworking and dedicated member of our squad who has proven his commitment and application to becoming a regular member of our NRL team,” Furner said. “Jarrad is yet another product of our fantastic junior development system and we are thrilled to see him taking the next steps in his NRL career at our club.
“Its players like Jarrad who will continue to make us lobby the NRL for urgent salary cap concessions on the development of players by our club.”
