HUDDERSFIELD Giants head coach Paul Anderson has his new No9 in place for next season – Grand Final winner Shaun Lunt.

The 25-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at champions Leeds Rhinos, has committed his future to the Giants and will stay with the John Smith’s Stadium club where he has three years still to run on his current contract.

“It will be good to have Lunty back and clearly he will have benefited massively from his experiences at Leeds, and in particular their ability to win the big games,” said Anderson.

“I see him as playing solely at hooker next year for us, working off the back of what space and opportunities the forwards will give him.

“Everyone knows he is excellent out of dummy half and I imagine he is one of the top try-scoring No9s in the competition in his relatively short Super League career to date.

“I think he still has improvements to make in his game and I am very happy that the Giants fans will be able to see the best of Shaun Lunt in the years to come, and he will complement superbly the players already here.”

The former Workington player said after Leeds’ 26-18 Grand Final victory over Warrington at Old Trafford that he would seek a quick decision from the Giants whether or not they intended to sell him or recall him.

Giants managing director Richard Thewlis is pleased to welcome back a player who left the club in mid-season under former coach Nathan Brown – who wished to create space in the squad to bring in free agent Scott Moore.

Thewlis said: “Everyone knows how tough and narrow the market for quality players is, so for Shaun to come back is really good for us.

“The decision was his to make, so for Shaun to now return is excellent news.

“It’s like a new signing in many respects and he returns to us with the experience of playing in the two major finals and winning at Old Trafford.

“He is currently with the England Knights team and will have a well deserved break after that before linking back up with our squad for pre season training.

“He was always a very popular player here and I am sure that everyone connected with the club will be delighted with this news.”