HE'S a Wingham Tigers junior and now Mitch Barnett wants to become a Newcastle Knight for life.
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Barnett, a two-time Danny Buderus Medal winner with the Knights, has signed a contract extension with the NRL club until the end of 2023. He linked with the Knights in 2016 after making his NRL debut with Canberra the previous year. He has now played 75 NRL games with Newcastle.
"I thought I was lucky enough just to sign with this club in the first place when I first came, but to play extended seasons here, it's a proud moment and something I'll really cherish,'' Barnett told the Newcastle Herald.
"I can't wait for the next three years."
Barnett said he hoped to play out his career with the Knights.
"I guess for a kid growing up in Wingham, or the Manning Valley, it's their dream to play for the Knights. It's our closest NRL side,'' he said.
"Newcastle is my home now and I've settled in, so honestly it's a blessing.''
Barnett represented Country under 18s in 2012 when playing for Wingham and was the Group Three representative player of the year for that season.
He went to the Raiders the following year, where he had two seasons in the under 20s.
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Meanwhile, Barnett's junior club, the Wingham Tigers, started preparations for 2020 Group Three season with training sessions last weekend.
Training will now break until mid-January, while first grade captain-coach Mick Sullivan hopes to organise one pre-season trial.
The Tigers will play defending premiers Macleay Valley in the opening round of the Group Three competition at Kempsey on Sunday May 3.