Arona signs two year extension with Roosters

by NRL

Sydney Roosters forward Tinirau Arona has agreed to a two-year contract extension keeping him at the club until the end of 2014.

Arona - who celebrates his 23rd birthday today - joins teammates Aidan Guerra, Anthony Minichiello, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Joseph Leilua who have all signed contract extensions within the last three weeks.

The reigning Cook Islands Player of the Year, Arona expressed his delight at extending his time at the club.

"I'm so happy to commit to the Roosters. The club has been really good to me and I'm excited to be a part of the team for another two years."

Roosters Head Coach Brian Smith was pleased with Arona's decision, following what he described as the young forward's best game of the season.

"T has worked really hard to get himself to where he is and had his best game of the season in our win against the Knights last weekend," he said.

"With his great work ethic, he will only continue to grow as a player over the coming seasons and we are pleased to have him as part of our young and developing forward pack for another couple of years."

Arona made his first grade debut with the Roosters against the Wests Tigers in Round 4 of the 2011 season and has played 22 NRL games to date.

He joins fellow young current Roosters players Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Aidan Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jake Friend, Martin Kennedy, Mose Masoe, Mitchell Aubusson and Tom Symonds on long-term contracts, falling in line with the club's commitment to developing its youth.

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