League: Cleary has contract extended

Coach Ivan Cleary has had his contract with the New Zealand Warriors extended, the National Rugby League club said today.

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.

Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said Cleary's contract had been extended until the end of 2008, with an option for him to stay on in 2009.

"When he was given the job, we were confident he would be a top-class NRL coach and again make this club a respected force," Scurrah said.

"With the support of the football department he has delivered on that."

Cleary said the present campaign, which began with the Warriors having four points docked for previous salary cap breaches, had been testing but rewarding.

"The players have responded well in adversity and I'm really looking forward to continuing with the work we've started this year," he said.

"There are plenty of reasons to be excited about what lies ahead."

Going into their last fixture of the season, away to Brisbane on Sunday, the Warriors have a 12-11 win-loss record under Cleary.

They have won their last four matches, and eight of their previous 11, although they are out of contention for the semifinals.

They sit ninth on the table, but would be seventh and battling for a playoff spot if the points they lost were added to their tally.

- NZPA