DEVELOPING Wolves’ youngsters into Super League stars is a challenge that helped convince Tony Smith to extend his stay at Warrington.

Smith’s tenure at Wolves is the longest the former Huddersfield and Leeds boss has spent in charge of a club.

“In the past I’ve probably been the sort of person who after a certain period of time has been looking for new challenges,” he said after this week extending his contract by a year until the end of 2016.

“But I’m enjoying the challenges of taking our club to the next level, rather than handing over to somebody else. The amount of benefit and resources put into our juniors is really paying off.

“To see the young people come through and make Super League level is a big draw on wanting to remain and see them develop into Super League players of a high quality.

“I’ve enjoyed some of the influence I’ve had on them, but I’m also excited about the ones I’m yet to have the influence on. There are some terrific prospects coming through as well as dealing with the current crop.”

There had been a lot of speculation linking Super League’s longest-serving coach Smith with the vacant head coach’s position at NRL club St George Illawarra Dragons, with whom he won a Grand Final as a player in 1992.

But the 47-year-old said he never considered leaving for Australia and that his family is happy with his current role.

“It’s also about our overall happiness as a family,” he added.

“They’ve certainly been fantastic in the time we have been at Warrington. It’s nice to have had some interest and very flattering, but I haven’t been tempted to do that and nor do I think I will in the future.”