Bradford Bulls CEO explains why they couldn’t stand in the way of star’s move to Huddersfield Giants

Bradford Bulls today confirmed that star youngster George Flanagan Jr would be leaving the club in 2024.

It comes as Huddersfield Giants beat plenty of rivals to his signature paying the West Yorkshire club an undisclosed fee for his signature after he featured for the Bulls alongside his father in 2022.

It is a disappointing loss for the ambitious Bulls who have shown their Super League intent with some major signings going into 2023 such as Leeds Rhinos’ Jack Walker but CEO Jason Hirst explained that the Bulls will not stand in the way of a player who wants to make the leap to Super League.

He said: “George made it clear that he believes that he needs to move into a full time training environment with a Super League club if he is to fulfil his potential and ambitions and we totally understand that desire.

“We have always maintained that for as long as we were not a full time Super League club, we would never stand in the way of any player’s development, should they get the genuine opportunity to play at a higher level.

“We have agreed with George that he remains fully committed to the Bulls throughout the 2023 season, but believe it is in everyone’s best interests to quickly get the announcement out in the open to prevent any unnecessary speculation.

“I’d like to place on record, the impressive and professional way that George has conducted himself in relation to his transfer, which is testament to him, his family and the morals and standards he’s honed during his time at the Bradford Bulls.”