Paul Deacon believes his half-back partnership with Iestyn Harris will flourish now that both players have committed to the club for at least the next three years.

Deacon signed a three-year contract extension during the week, which will keep him at Odsal until the end of the 2007 season.

"To sign again at Bradford is brilliant," said Deacon, who dismissed speculation he had been tempted to return to his home-town club Wigan.

"We have a great bunch of lads and a really good club, so I am very happy. I never heard anything from Wigan. That never came up at all. It was never in my mind.

"We are the world champions and I want to stay here and win more trophies at Bradford.

"Negotiations went quite smoothly and I am pleased with the contract."

And Deacon is excited at the prospect of forming a long-term partnership with stand off Iestyn Harris.

"It's like anything in life, the more you get to know the person you are working with the better you'll do. You learn what each other is going to do and get into a routine.

"If I stay scrum half and Iestyn stays stand off then I can see us going from strength to strength."

Bulls chairman Chris Caisley was delighted to have retained Deacon's services.

"Paul has been a top-quality performer year in and year out," said Caisley.

"He has been at the top of the scoring charts every season that he has played for the club and he shows signs of being right up there again this year.

"His record speaks for itself. He has a lot to offer and a lot of improvement still in him.

"He's one of the top scrum halves in the game and it is vital for us to keep players in key positions.

"Apart from anything else, his goal-kicking record is top class. Over the next few years, with the arrival of Iestyn Harris, I'll think we'll begin to see the best of Deacs."

At 25, Deacon still has his best years ahead of him, although he has already made 186 appearances for the club, scoring 44 tries and kicking 532 goals since signing from Oldham in 1997.

"I'll be a veteran by the time I finish this contract," he said.

"I feel as if I've been here 20 years already, but I am still fresh and still enjoying it here and hopefully I still will be in three years' time."

Deacon's contract will take him through to ten years' service for the club, which should see him qualify for a testimonial season.