England international Gareth Ellis has extended his contract with the Wests Tigers and will stay at the NRL club until the end of 2013.

Ellis said he originally intended to head back to the English Super League, but his determination to win a premiership with the Tigers and the happiness of his family kept him in Australia.

The tough second rower has added some much needed steel to the Tigers' forward pack and coach Tim Sheens said Ellis' work ethic has rubbed off on the whole club.

Ellis said in the end the decision to stay was an easy one and he didn't consider offers from other clubs.

"Obviously I'm really happy. People have been asking me if it was a big decision and it wasn't really," he said.

"I'm really happy with how I've settled in with the Tigers in a short space of time. Definitely one of the reasons why I'm here is to win a premiership and the club is heading in the right direction."

In bad news for the Tigers, frontrower Keith Galloway requires hand surgery and will miss at least a month of football.

It is shattering news for Galloway as it is the second consecutive year his State Of Origin hopes have been dashed by an untimely injury.

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