In a massive coup for the Ipswich Jets Rugby League Club, 2016 Queensland Residents and Queensland Rangers representatives Nemani Valekapa and Chris Ash have re-signed with the club until the end of the 2018 season.
Valekapa had another stellar year for the Ipswich Jets in season 2016 which saw him rewarded with selection in the Queensland Residents team which took on NSW Residents in the NRL’s representative round earlier in the year.
The Fijian flyer will look to take his representative honours even higher in 2017 with a push for selection in the Fijian squad for the World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand at the end of next season.
With 83 Intrust Super Cup games under his belt, Valekapa has established himself as one of the most dangerous centres in the competition and season 2016 saw him score 9 tries with an impressive 12 try assists.
While for Chris Ash, it was a break-out year in 2016 which saw him cement a regular spot in the halves for the Ipswich Jets’ Intrust Super Cup team and he was also rewarded with representative honours by being named captain of the XXXX Queensland Rangers Team which defeated the NSW Ron Massey Cup rep team back in July.
Ipswich Jets CEO Jason Cubit said he was delighted to secure the signatures of both players.
“Nem and Chris have been an integral part of our club for some time and securing their signatures for a further two seasons is a great boost for the Ipswich Jets.
“Having won 8 of our final 12 games in 2016 we are more than confident of the ability of the current squad to give the competition a genuine shake in 2017.
“We aim for continual improvement in everything that we do at the Ipswich Jets and securing Nem and Chris for two more seasons will ensure we remain successful because as well as being very good players they are very good people and great assets on and off the field,” Cubit said.