Bradford Bulls reveal 2022 squad numbers and confirm their captains for next season

Ahead of a big season for the Bradford Bulls, the club has today released their official squad numbers for 2022.

After seven years away from the top flight, Bradford will be hoping to end their wait to play in Super League once more and are considered by some the dark horses for promotion behind favourites Leigh and Featherstone.

With some exciting new additions to the squad, the Bulls should enjoy a fantastic season and will have their hearts set on a place in the top four especially if their squad is anything to go by.

Today, the club released their squad numbers in full having also released a history inspired away kit. Like the interesting retro look the Bulls will wear away from home in 2022, the new squad numbers certainly caught the eye.

The most notable thing amongst next year’s squad numbers is Dec Patton taking on the number six shirt. The shirt number was vacated by former Man of Steel Danny Brough following his retirement with Patton inheriting the shirt following his arrival from Salford this winter.

Patton was once seen as one of the best young halfbacks in the league scoring Warrington’s only try in the 2016 Grand Final before being the only halfback in Warrington’s side in their 2019 Challenge Cup Final victory lining up in the halves alongside Ben Currie that afternoon as they defeated favourites St Helens, so he’ll bring some definite quality to the Bulls next term.

He’s joined in Bradford’s first 17 by a fellow former Salford man in the shape of Elliot Kear who takes on the number one shirt having played there for much of last season. On the wings, Matty Dawson-Jones has swapped numbers taking on the number two shirt having worn five last season with Ryan Millar taking on his vacated shirt number.

Speaking of swapping shirt numbers, Arron Murphy has moved from 12 to 11 with Sam Scott taking on the number 12 shirt. Ebon Scurr has been promoted to 16 from 18 whilst new signing Jordan Baldwinson takes the number 15 shirt.

A former Leeds academy star, Baldwinson was seen as one of the bright stars of the future at Leeds as was Jordan Lilley. They are now both hoping to be heroes for Leeds’ biggest rivals.

Lilley has kept the number seven shirt and has been confirmed as the club’s vice-captain alongside another former Leeds man in the shape of Rhys Evans who has kept the number three shirt whilst his brother Ben takes on the number 13 shirt.

New signing Elliot Hall who scored the try which sent Bradford out of the play-offs last season despite working for the Bulls has been awarded the number 21 shirt after making the switch from Batley.

In the front row Thomas Doyle keeps nine whilst Steve Crossley is again number 10 and has been confirmed as the club’s captain for 2022 whilst Anthony England’s number eight shirt goes to another Anthony, Anthony Walker.

There’s no squad numbers for Leeds loanees Jarrod O’Connor, Corey Johnson and Muizz Mustapaha.

Here’s the squad in full:

1. Elliot Kear
2. Matty Dawson-Jones
3. Rhys Evans
4. Kieran Gill
5. Ryan Millar
6. Dec Patton
7. Jordan Lilley
8. Anthony Walker
9. Thomas Doyle
10. Steve Crossley
11. Arron Murphy
12. Sam Scott
13. Ben Evans
14. George Flanagan
15. Jordan Baldwinson
16. Ebon Scurr
17. Brad England
18. Sammy Kibula
19. David Foggin-Johnson
20. Billy Jowitt
21. Elliot Hall
22. Joe Burton
23. Bradley Ho
24. AJ Wallace
27. Eldon Myers
29. Dan Flemming