Former Super League and NRL star Jarrod Sammut says that signing for Workington Town wasn’t a difficult decision to make after joining the club on a two-year deal.

Sammut joined Town towards the end of the 2015 season on a short-term basis and became an instant hit at Zebra Claims Stadium.

The half-back made 12 appearances for Workington, scoring nine tries and kicking 20 goals - the club also picked up seven wins during his stint at Town.

“It’s been a lengthy process but it’s one that I’m pleased to put to rest now and I can look forward to the season,” Sammut said.

“I said at the end of last season that I would be happy to stay with the club, they made me feel welcome.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Phil Veivers and the board.

“We sat down at the end of the season and they made it clear to me the direction they want to go and that they wanted me to be a big part of that plan.

“I had to have a double wrist reconstruction at the end of the season and the club have really taken care of me so I’d like to say a big thanks to them for that.”

The former Penrith Panthers, Bradford Bulls and Wakefield Wildcats star says that the chance to play with one of his childhood friends again was a big factor in signing for the club on a permanent basis.

Sammut and Town prop forward Latu Fifita played junior rugby together in Australia and the half-back can’t wait to rekindle that playing partnership in the new season.

“I came to the club earlier in the year wanting to play with my best mate but, unfortunately through injury, that didn’t happen,” he added.

“He’s coming back from his injury now and there’s the opportunity to play with him again like we did when we were kids.”

As a returning member of the squad, Sammut hopes that he and his team-mates will avoid a repeat of the slow starts of previous seasons.

“Coming back to the club makes things a lot easier and the transition a lot smoother,” he continued.

“Going into a club as a fresh face can be tough at first because you need to get to know 20 or 30 new faces and you’re in a new environment.

“So you’re thrown in at the deep end and you have to pick things up fast.

“But now we can get underway and get some combinations going in pre-season.

“We want to start the season strong rather than having a poor start and then picking it up after that. We don’t want to fall by the wayside.”