It seems a lifetime since Stan left the club carried off shoulder high by our fans after another depressing play-off defeat at Featherstone. Our paths then went in very different directions. The club down and into further decline and Stan onwards and upwards.

At the time and for years after I don’t think anyone realistically could have foreseen the day when Stan came back and was able to make such a massive contribution to our Super League ambitions. Scoring a try in a record derby victory at the KC to secure our future is the stuff of dreams.

When we secured promotion Stan was adamant about honouring his promise to come back here and finish his career. To achieve that he had to secure his release from a hugely successful Bradford Bulls side.

Instead of being part of a star studded, honours chasing, outfit he has grafted it out week in week out many times over the full eighty minutes to play as big a part as anyone in ensuring we take our place in Super League 2008.

Off the field, Stan is a hugely popular character and a great ambassador for the club. For those and many other reasons, Stan deserves a record breaking year.

I wish him, Jo and the boys, all the best for the future, for the rest of his career (however long that might be) and into what will be a well earned retirement.