Wollongong Wolves re-sign their player of the year last season Banri Kanaizumi

Despite a disappointing campaign last season which culminated in an underwhelming ninth-placed finish, Kanaizumi was the shining light at the back.

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The Japanese international was deployed at centre-back for the majority of last season, but had spells at both left-back and right-back. He was deployed in the latter position for the Wolves last game of the season just gone, where he scored two goals in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Sutherland, which was former coach Luke Wilkshire's last game for the club.

Wolves coach Carney told the Mercury that he was incredibly happy to have re-signed Kanaizumi and said he would play a crucial role for the club in 2023.

"He's someone that we need at the back," he said.

"He's a very smart player. He's also a visa spot and to use one of your visa spots on a centre-back shows how good he is. He reads the game so well, he's very composed on the ball but he can also score goals at the other end like what we saw in the last game of the season where he scored two headers.

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"Banri has got the full package and he's very respected at the club, everyone loves him and he's a good person as well and that's very important for the Wolves.

Carney added that he appreciated the versatility of Kanaizumi but he already had plans in his mind of where he will be deployed.

"He can play centre-back but he can also play centre-midfield as well," he said.

"This is good because he is good on the ball and is a smart player with his positioning and all that.

"He's versatile but his main position for me will be centre-back.

"[But] if injuries come along and we need to fill gaps then he can do that."

Kanaizumi first secured a move to the Wolves following a successful Illawarra Premier League stint with Corrimal in 2019.

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