WARRINGTON Wolves have shown their intent to fend off interest from the NRL in the club's best young players by giving Ben Currie a new contract.

The 20-year-old is Wolves’ top try-scorer this season and has penned a new four-year deal at The Halliwell Jones until November 2019.

Currie says he is glad to commit his future to the Warrington, while his form has caught the eye of England head coach Steve McNamara.

But Wolves' head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith thinks McNamara is not the only one to have been watching Currie's progress.

“That’s a really big coup, because there’s a lot of interest in him from all parts of the world at the moment,” said Smith.

“For him to commit with us shows his intent and the club’s intent as well. We’ve seen for the last few years big recruitment drives in the UK for British kids.

“We’ve seen British talent going to Australia. We try to take care of our own and make sure they’re well looked after so they want to stay.”

Chief executive Roger Draper added: “As a club we are always looking to the future and are keen to retain our young, British talent.

“Ben is a valued asset to the club and we look forward to seeing him develop further both as a person and a player.”

Currie, who had two years to run on his old deal, was impressed by the club’s proactive approach in offering him improved terms.

“They were happy with how I’ve been going and said they wanted to reward me with how this season’s going," explained the back rower.

“They wanted to tie me down for a few more years, and I’m really happy to do that.

“We’ve got good youth coming through and you’re going to have opportunities to play in the best games here; play-offs and finals.”

The Lowton-based former Ireland international is now hoping to continue his form and make England’s Test series squad for the games against New Zealand in November.

“At the beginning of the year it probably wasn’t a goal of mine,” explained Currie, who made his Wolves debut aged 17.

“Now it’s a goal I hopefully can reach, but I’ve got to keep performing how I am at the moment.

"At such a young age it means I must have been playing very well, but I’m not getting my hopes up too much – there’s lots of competition out there in the back row positions.”

Currie feels his World Cup experience with Ireland, who he qualified for through his grandparents, should stand him in good stead.

“Ireland was a really good opportunity for me,” he added. “I got to play against the best of the best and actually got to play against England and Australia.

“I feel like I’ve played against the best, so England can only be good for me.”

Currie will miss Friday’s trip to Hull KR with a concussion and it will be the first time he has not started a Wolves game this season.

He has crossed for 10 tries in those 20 starts, but says there is room to continue improving this season.

“Over the years I’ve always seemed to be a try scorer, coming up through the ranks," he added. "Once I got into the first team it didn’t really happen for me.

“I've got back to some of my old stuff and shown what I’ve got.

"It’s maybe a year later than I wanted, but it all seems to be fitting together this season.

“But you are never happy and you can improve every aspect of your game. I’ve finally stopped growing now, so maybe I can put on a bit."