CAPTAIN Danny King admitted he was "over the moon" to be back with Poole Pirates for another season.

King led Pirates to a league and cup double last year and was yesterday confirmed as one of the first two men to have signed up for another season at Wimborne Road, alongside Steve Worrall.

The 35-year-old, who will also continue with Ipswich Witches in the Premiership, will be a familiar face in what is set to be a new-look Poole line-up for 2022.

Following the retirement of Rory Schlein and confirmation of moves elsewhere for Danyon Hume, Stefan Nielsen and Benjamin Basso, at least four new men will make up this year's septet.

Discussing his decision to extend his stay with Poole, King told the club's website: "I'm over the moon, to be honest.

"It was a fantastic year last year. It couldn't have gone any better, could it?

"When the opportunity came, I didn't want to go anywhere else and I'm really pleased we got the deal done."

Asked what he hopes 2022 will bring, after winning the SGB Championship and Knockout Cup with Poole last season, King added: "Hopefully more of the same!

"Last year we had a fantastic team. I think it was filled with youth and experience and I think that paid off.

"The atmosphere in the pits was great and I think we bounced off each other and we just helped each other all year.

"I think you could see that, especially at home meetings with the crowd behind us. I think we thoroughly deserved it.

"With the way the team is shaping up this year, I think we're going to have something similar, so let's go and do it again."

Worrall has also signed up on a high average, retaining the number one spot he acquired by the end of last season.

"It's great that Steve is back as well," said King.

"He led by example last year and had a fantastic year.

"So with us back, I think it's solid at the top and with the rest of the boys, hopefully we can go and do what we did last year."

Poole are expected to announce further members of their 2022 line-up later this week.