WILL Kennedy is "a perfect fit for our club".
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Those words from Cronulla Sharks coach John Morris were the ones that Bathurst league talent Kennedy had been waiting to hear and on Tuesday they came.
They came as he signed a one-year contract extension with the NRL club.
"It is great news for the club that Will has extended his contract," Morris said.
"He is a great success story, making the transition through our elite pathway system from SG Ball to the NRL where Will made his debut in 2019.
"Will's commitment to his game, coupled with his outstanding character and talent makes him a perfect fit for our club.
"He has added the consistency to his game necessary to be a success as a starting NRL fullback and I've been extremely pleased with his performances so far this year."
Kennedy was delighted to be offered the extension and will continue to work on his skill set as he seeks more game time for the Sharks.
"I've been here a while now and I love the playing group we have here and love the club, so I'm really happy to be staying," Kennedy said.
"I've enjoyed the opportunities I've had so far, I want to just keep improving and hope to be a part of something special here at the Sharks."
Kennedy has long been part of the Cronulla set-up. In 2014 he was picked in the under 17s Sharks Academy squad and the following season was part of the premiership winning SG Ball side.
It was during that 2015 campaign that Kennedy, who had played as a five-eighth in Group 10's junior competitions, was first given the job as a fullback.
Since then he hasn't looked back.
He trained with the Sharks' NRL squad in 2018 and the following year on his 22nd birthday he made his NRL debut at fullback in the round six match against Penrith.
Before he ran out to be Shark number 530, he had a special moment when his father William 'Bubba' Kennedy presented him with his debut jersey.
He was given one more NRL start last year, but his form with Sharks feeder club the Newtown Jets saw him signed up for season 2020.
This season Kennedy has played nine more games for the Sharks and while his initial opportunities came when Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan were sidelined with injury, last Sunday he joined that pair in the starting 13.
It was a match played in pouring rain, but Kennedy impressed, the Sharks' website saying he: "handled everything thrown at him by the Eels in extremely challenging conditions for a fullback".
In nine games this year the 23-year-old has scored three tries, while he also has seven assists. It is part of the reason Morris sees him as "a player with a definite future in the NRL".
The Sharks will host the Gold Coast Titans in round 14 this Saturday.