League: Rovelli to stay with Warriors until 2010

Grant Rovelli

National Rugby League rookie Grant Rovelli has extended his contract with the New Zealand Warriors to the end of the 2010 season.

The 22 year old arrived in Auckland last October on a two-year deal, aiming to break into first grade football after three seasons playing in the Sydney Roosters' premier league side.

He achieved his goal immediately, making his first-grade debut off the bench in the Warriors' opening match this season.

Since, he has gone on to feature in all nine of the club's matches so far, seven times off the bench as well as having starts at standoff against Canberra and in his preferred position of halfback against St George Illawarra last Saturday.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary, who was Rovelli's coach at the Roosters in 2003 and 2004, said the signing was important for the club's future.

"Grant has taken every chance offered since arriving in Auckland," he said.

"It's vital we do all we can to secure players of his ability and character on a long-term basis. This is a great signing for the club and it will help us to build a team around the established players we have and the local ones we're developing.

Rovelli became the fourth player in recent weeks to agree to extensions or new contracts with the Warriors, wingers Manu Vatuvei and Misi Taulapapa and 2005 rookie of the year Simon Mannering being others.

- NZPA