5 Jun 2009

Cleary gets contract extension

6:24 am on 5 June 2009

Ivan Cleary has signed a two-year contract extension to continue as the New Zealand Warriors coach until the end of the 2012 National Rugby League season.

Executive director of football John Hart says the club is delighted to secure Cleary well ahead of his current contract expiring at the end of the 2010 season.

He says they're thrilled with the job Ivan is doing for them and hold him in the highest regard.

Cleary is also closing in on becoming the first coach to reach the 100-game mark for the club. Sunday's game against Cronulla will be his 89th in charge, just three games short of equalling Daniel Anderson's club record of 92 games as coach.

While he is in just his fourth season as Warriors coach, Cleary already has the distinction of being one of the longest survivors among today's NRL coaches. Of the other 15 coaches, only Craig Bellamy (Melbourne), Tim Sheens (Wests Tigers) and Des Hasler (Manly) have been in their current jobs longer than Cleary.