The veteran announced his retirement ahead of the Group Nine grand final, and looked to have gone out with a premiership, but has decided to return for another season with the club.

After having a change of heart earlier this week new Gundagai coach Adam Perry was pleased to have him back on board.

The Tigers had been on the hunt for a centre to replace Willis, as well as James Curgenven, but hadn’t come up with an answer yet.

However having the two-time premiership winner back on board changes things.

Perry believes the 35-year-old still has plenty to offer.

“I think last year probably wasn’t his best, and I think he’d admit that, but he was playing through injury a bit,” Perry said.

“Hopefully with a good off-season and an injury free year he’ll be back to his best.”

Best known for his impressive tryscoring feats, Willis didn’t a big year by his own lofty standards in 2018.

He was the competition’s leading tryscorer in 2016, with 24 tries, and finished third with 18 the following year, but only scored six leading into the finals.

However he shone in the big games still with doubles in their first two finals games.

With Willis back, Perry is no longer on the hunt for a new face in the back line.

Instead Willis, Rhys Smart and Seb Cottam are in the running for the two positions.

Smart is set to miss the first few weeks on the season to get married but he did work his way through to the team last year.

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