Lauitiiti has signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at Headingley Carnegie until the end of 2010.

The former New Zealand Warriors star – whose existing deal was due to expire at the end of this season – is following in the footsteps of half-backs Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow who signed five-year contracts last month. Other players to agree new deals this year include Brent Webb, Scott Donald, Ryan Bailey, Jamie Peacock and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

The latest move leaves Carl Ablett and Nick Scruton as the only top 20 squad members out of contract at the end of the year.

Now in his fifth season at the club, Lauitiiti said he had always been keen to stay at Leeds.

"There is a good group of young players coming through and there are some very good players here," he said.

"The club is going forward. It is heading in the right direction, which is the main thing, so I think there's a good future here. It's good to get the opportunity to stay.

"My family's happy, it is a good club and all the boys are good, so I'm pleased. I've got some happy memories here and the years I've been at the club have been really good.

"The club have been really supportive. I really feel at home at Leeds."

Boss Brian McClennan – who also coached Lauitiiti at international level – said the player's decision is a boost for the whole club.

Said McClennan: "We are all very, very happy to have Ali with us for another two years.

"I think everyone at Headingley Carnegie has enjoyed seeing Ali in full flight. Some of the things that Ali does on the field, he is probably one of the handful of players who can do that in the game of rugby league and the world of rugby league."

Knee injuries have restricted Lauitiiti to just 14 appearances this season, but McClennan expects him to be a key figure over the next three months and says the player is yet to reach his peak.

"We went through a period when he was in outstanding form for us," said the coach.

"He was a big reason why we were going so well.

"He has shown glimpses of that again. He has worked really hard and we are going to see the best of Ali in the next two years.

"He is really making a big effort in training and that will show on the field."

Chief executive Gary Hetherington also welcomed Lauitiiti's new deal.
"He showed last Friday at Wigan that he is capable of coming up with some outstanding play," said Hetherington.

"He has got a real eagerness about him and he's looking forward to finishing the season really strongly.

"Ali has had a few unfortunate injuries, but he is very much part of our squad.

"He is one of our group's most senior players and he has got a really healthy respect from both the other players and the coaching staff.
"He is an integral part of our core group and we're delighted he is going to be prolonging his career with us."

Lauitiiti has played 119 games for Rhinos, 68 of them as a substitute.

Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield is included in the 19 for tomorrow night's match at home to Huddersfield Giants after a scan revealed no damage to the knee he injured at Wigan.

Kiwi centre Clinton Toopi (dislocated shoulder and knee surgery) is also included for the first time since February, while Carl Ablett (ankle) also returns.

Huddersfield captain Chris Thorman can play tomorrow after being found not guilty of intentionally biting Bradford full-back Michael Platt during Sunday's 25-24 engage Super League win over the Bulls when he appeared before a Rugby Football League disciplinary committee.

Rhinos (v Huddersfield, from): Webb, Hall, Toopi, Senior, Donald, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Ellis, Jones-Buchanan, Lauitiiti, Sinfield, Smith, Bailey, Burgess, Allan, Ablett.
Rhinos' under-18 Academy side take on Huddersfield in tomorrow's curtain-raiser (5.45pm).