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The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have gone a long way to shoring up their defence.

On Monday, the Ticats announced they have re-signed veteran linebacker Simoni Lawrence to a two-year contract and cornerback Delvin Breaux Sr. to a three-year deal.

Getting both players under contract long-term was vitally important, and a win-win for the players and the team.

Lawrence is the emotional leader of Hamilton’s defence, and has backed up his trash talking exploits with all-star calibre play throughout his tenure in Steeltown.

Breaux has created a wasteland in the secondary for the opposition’s top receivers, consistently taking away what is, in many instances, the quarterback’s No. 1 option.

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The two will be the backbone of what could be one of the CFL’s top units in 2019 under new defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington.

Money aside, I have no doubt the biggest reason why Lawrence and Breaux are staying with the Ticats is new head coach Orlondo Steinauer.

Both players enjoyed some of their best performances while Steinauer was the team’s defensive co-ordinator in 2013 and ’14.

Steinauer, entering his first year as a head coach, will be putting his fingerprints all over the team — and having two experienced and talented players that he can depend on the defensive side of the ball is a huge plus.