Bulls skipper Robbie Paul has handed the club a huge boost on the eve of the Challenge Cup semi-final by signing a three-year extension to his contract.

It ends long-running speculation that he would leave Odsal at the end of the season for a lucrative deal with his hometown club Auckland Warriors or Brian Smith's Parramatta and cements his exciting half-back partnership with brother Henry for at least one more season after the current campaign.

Henry's current deal runs out at the end of the 2001 season but Robbie's decision to sign up until the end of the end of 2003 could have a major bearing on future contract discussions with the highly talented stand-off.

Robbie told the T&A today: "I am delighted to have secured my future at the club for an additional three years.

"It has come a long way from Bradford Northern to the Bulls and I am looking forward to playing a big part in what I think will be a highly successful future.

"I am sure that with everyone pulling to-gether the club will continue to go from strength to strength. I have a great affection for the club and its fans and the prospect of playing in the new stadium at Odsal was also a major factor in my decision."

Bulls chief executive Abi Ekoku enthused: "It's a massive shot in the arm for the club going into tomorrow's semi-final.

"Robbie is a world-class player and this is a clear indication of the club's commitment to remain at the forefront of the sport on and off the field for many years to come.

"Robbie has been a central figure in the re-branding and rebirth of the club and his decision to remain with us, like other leading players recently, demonstrates our standing in world rugby league."

The club will attempt to further increase its profile tomorrow by clinching a place in the showpiece final at Murrayfield on April 29.

Coach Matthew Elliott has added the fit-again Michael Withers and Stuart Fielden to the 17 on duty against the Wolves last week but will not make his selection public until just before kick-off.

French forward Jerome Guisset will start his first match for Warrington.

Coach Darryl Van de Velde has made just one change to the side that crashed 58-4 at Odsal last Sunday with Guisset starting in the second row at the expense of Ian Knott, who drops to the bench.

"I'm not panicking about the result last Sunday," said Van de Velde. "We've got six new players at the club and the team is going to get better."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.