Bradford Bulls tie down pair to new deals as Super League preparations continue

Bradford Bulls have tied down Joe Keyes and Eliot Peposhi to new full-time contracts as they prepare to make the step up to Super League.

The Bulls will be one of three clubs making the jump up to the top flight in 2026, with York Knights and Toulouse Olympique also being promoted, and they are now in the process of making the necessary changes to their squad.

They’ve already made a raft of signings and Kurt Haggerty has been appointed as head coach to take the club into Super League. However, the Bulls are also having to offer full-time contracts to their players and Keyes and Peposhi are the latest to agree new deals.

Keyes has penned a contract until the end of the 2026 season after joining the club for a third time at the start of the 2025 campaign. He made 24 appearances for Bradford as the club reached the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs.

He’ll compete with new signings Jayden Nikorima and Rowan Milnes for a spot in the Bradford line-up under Haggerty.

Peposhi, on the other hand, has signed a new three-year deal after impressing over the last couple of seasons with the Bulls. The Albania international joined the club from St Helens’ youth set up and has made 15 appearances for the club so far.

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“I like Eliot, he gives 100% in absolutely everything that he does,” Haggerty said. “He is aggressive, he’s physical, he isn’t a big man but he certainly plays big. There’s a lot to his game that I like and I think moving into a full-time environment we will really see the best of him.”

On Keyes, Haggerty added: “He will be pushing the likes of Jayden Nikorima and Rowan Milnes and Joe is a very competent player in his own right. He’s been a very good Championship player, he’s dipped his toe in and out of Super League which shows that he has the ability to play Super League.

“There are a lot of parts to Joe’s game that I like and there are a lot of parts to his game that I think I can help him with. He’s a really good player to have in our squad.”