Canterbury coach Dean Pay has stepped in to ensure Michael Lichaa will stay at the Bulldogs, just months after the NRL club farewelled him.
On Friday, the Bulldogs confirmed they had re-signed the 24-year-old to a two-year deal, where it's expected he will be given far more freedom to run out of dummy-half.
Lichaa was off-contract after having struggled to find his mojo under sacked coach Des Hasler, but has previously starred for Pay in the NSW under-20s in 2012 and 2013.
"Having worked with Michael at junior representative level, I know what a talented footballer he is," Pay said.
"We are extremely pleased that we have been able to extend Michael's time here at Belmore and I'm looking forward to seeing him back with the club.
"He will be an important part of our forward strength next year."
Lichaa arrived at Canterbury in 2015 as one of the most promising players in the NRL, but had his running game stifled out of dummy-half.
He was renowned at Cronulla in the under-20s for his ability to create spark out of the ruck, but was given little opportunity to do that under Hasler's forwards first approach at Belmore.
"I was definitely always a runner coming through and I feel like that was probably my strength," Lichaa told AAP in August.
"And the way we've been playing I haven't really been able to do that.
"That is frustrating."
The re-signing will prove a massive relief for Lichaa, who will play for Lebanon at the World Cup.
His first priority had always remained to stay at the Bulldogs, however, he had fielded interest from at least three other rival clubs in a bid to avoid spending a season in the rugby league wilderness.
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