York City Knights are delighted to announce that winger Perry Whiteley has signed a new deal for 2021, becoming the third member of our 2020 squad to sign for next season in as many days.
27-year-old Whiteley began his rugby league career coming through the youth ranks at Betfred Super League side Huddersfield Giants before spending two seasons in Australia with Young RL in Country Rugby League. Following that spell, he returned to the UK with Workington Town in 2015.
In two seasons with the Cumbrians, Whiteley scored fourteen tries before, in 2017, moving to Sheffield Eagles, who he played seventeen games for as the South Yorkshiremen finished runners-up in the Championship Shield.
Whiteley has been with the Knights since part-way through the 2018 season, signing on transfer deadline day from Keighley Cougars, going on to score three tries in his two appearances.
After arriving best known as a centre, Knights head coach James Ford saw potential in Whiteley as a winger and, throughout the 2019 campaign in which he made twenty appearances, he scored eight tries as the team secured a memorable third placed finish in the Betfred Championship.
Of his retention, Ford said: “Den showed heaps of potential at the back end of 2019 where he finished as our first-choice winger. He carries the ball with plenty of intent, causing lots of stress in our opponent’s defensive line. He also uses his physicality to make him a threat on kick attack.
“Perry will face stiff competition for a spot in 2021 and he’s excited by that challenge. I’m confident that competition will facilitate a fitter, faster and better Perry Whiteley.”
Whiteley himself stated his delight at extending his stay with the club. “I’m really pleased with the extension,” he said. “The squad is looking really strong again and I’m really happy to be a part of it and looking forward to pushing myself even more.
“The culture at the club is fantastic and the club has high ambitions which I think are very achievable and it’s great to be part of that.”
The winger has become the tenth player to sign for the Knights ahead of the 2021 campaign and Ford praised the impact of the 2020 Knights Patrons and Squadbuilder in allowing the club to plan effectively for next year. “Their continued commitment and hard work enables us to plan and build for what will hopefully be another successful season,” Ford outlined.
“We hope to be able to repay their faith with a strong showing in 2021”
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