November 21, 2021 - 807 views
Jack Houghton is the latest player to commit to North Wales Crusaders ahead of the 2022 campaign.
The 24-year-old rejoined Crusaders last season for a second spell, sharing an important message about mental health following some personal battles he had faced.
Houghton worked hard to get himself back up to match fitness and, when he returned, it looked like he’d never been away, taking up some new positions in the forward pack.
With 66 appearances to date in his North Wales career, the Widnes Vikings academy graduate will be hoping to kick on further in 2022.
On his new deal, Houghton said: “I was gutted that the season ended as, when I played, I felt like I was ready again.
“I’ve kept really active in the off-season and can’t wait as it’s the best group I’ve ever been involved with.
“There’s no egos or anything like that and the stadium move, with our fanbase growing, has been fantastic for the club. My comeback was all about me playing with a smile on my face and, if I got game time, I got game time.
“I probably surprised myself a bit and now it’s about trying to make sure I play every week. I played more in the middle and I haven’t really done that before, but I loved it.
“We’ve shown that we can be right up there in this league and a lot of people from other clubs are watching us. There’s no reason why we can’t build on what we did last season as we’re creating a strong squad here.
“I wouldn’t have signed anywhere else because Muzza gave me a chance again and I’ll always repay him. He’s a really good bloke and it’s great to be able to train, play and learn under him.”
