Scrum half Paul Deacon has signed a two-year extension to his Bradford Bulls contract.

It means the Great Britain international will remain with the Super League and World Club champions until the end of the 2004 season.

The 23-year-old is delighted to have sewn up his immediate future, and said: "It is what I wanted as I believe I am at the best rugby league club there is.

"I love it here, and my aim is to keep playing well and be first choice for the next few years, but it is nice to have the security of a contract extension and nice that they want me."

Bulls coach Brian Noble, who has given Deacon his head this season in a starting role now that Robbie Paul has moved to stand-off with the departure of Henry Paul, is also pleased at the news.

The Great Britain assistant coach said: "It is fantastic. He is happy here and we are happy with him, and it is a great opportunity that I am sure he will take with both hands.

"He needs to continue improving to be as good as he has to be, and he is improving week by week.

"I am sure he will continue that and be one of the outstanding half-backs in the country. It is a big bonus for the club that he sees his future with us."

Deacon agrees with Noble about his improvement, saying: "I feel I am getting better week by week, although the spectators might not see it!

"The position I play, you have to get into a groove by playing 80 minutes every week, and I am glad I have had the opportunity to do that this year."

Deacon, named yesterday in the Great Britain shadow squad for the Test in Australia on Friday week, has been in outstanding form this season.

He has landed 93 goals from 114 attempts for the Bulls to be the leading kicker in the competition with an 81.51 per cent success rate.

Deacon, who joined the Bulls from Oldham after the 1997 season, was also in superb form with the boot for Lancashire in the recent Origin Series, being successful with all six of his efforts on goal.

"My goal-kicking cannot really go any better than it has done this season," said Deacon, "and my kicking from hand has been getting a little bit better as well, but having the ball all the time helps there."