WIDNES Vikings continue to build on the momentum of the past few weeks with another key signing.

Ben Kavanagh has extended his deal at the club by two years.

Kavanagh, 26, has been with the Vikings since the start of the Steve O’Connor administration and has developed under head coach Denis Betts into one of the best young front rowers in Super League.

Betts said: “Ben’s been in our thoughts throughout the process of signing and retaining players. He’s a player who has established himself in the Scotland squad and he had a great World Cup but also there’s still a lot of potential in him.

“He’s a big man who has lots of ability and skill and we need to keep extracting that out of Ben and that’s only going to benefit him and make the team better.

“Ben is slowly maturing as a front rower. He had a small hiccup in his career but he’s come back stronger each year. He has been one of our most consistent performers in the past and we’re looking forward to him finding the form that made him a huge hit in the World Cup for Scotland.

“He can get a lot better and I’m looking forward to working with him to achieve that.”

The Halifax born prop initially joined the Vikings in 2008 on loan from Wigan Warriors but enjoyed it so much he signed full-time and now, with 148 appearances for the Select Security Stadium Club under his belt, he is ready to make the next push in his career on the back of a hugely successful Rugby League World Cup 2013 with Scotland.

Kavanagh said: “I’m really enjoying my Rugby League at Widnes and I’m excited about the future and what we could achieve here.

“I’m over the moon to sign. It’s good that it’s now out of the way as I can concentrate on my Rugby League. I’m happy with my form at the moment but there’s much more to come from me and I’m keen to show the supporters what I can do.

“Widnes is a really big Club and you can see the great strides we’ve made since coming into Super League and what’s happening now.

“The Club has grown massively. Steve O’Connor has been central to that and we have got a great culture now and hopefully we can start challenging for trophies.

“We want to be up there and all the boys are working hard to get us to the top.”