Cleary has contract extended

Coach Ivan Cleary has had his contract with the New Zealand Warriors extended until the end of 2008 with an option for 2009.

Cleary, who is in his debut season as an NRL coach after taking over from Tony Kemp, was originally signed until the end of next year. Cleary's name had been one of several mentioned as a possible replacement to sacked Ricky Stuart at the Sydney Roosters next year.

The Warriors have won their past four matches, and eight of their previous 11, in a successful campaign under Cleary after the club was docked four competition points at the start of the season for salary cap breaches. They sit ninth on the table, but would be seventh and an outside chance for a top four spot if the points they lost were added to their tally.