Bradford Bulls will lose a promising youngster at the end of the season, after he has put pen to paper on a permanent move to the Championship.
Jacob Bateman has spent the 2026 season on loan at Dewsbury Rams, and has seemingly loved life at the club after agreeing a two-year contract to extend his stay at the FLAIR Stadium.
This season, he has played in 16 of 19 games for the Rams, and has featured in both the front and back row, as well as making appearances off the bench.
Bateman, 20, made his debut with Bradford in 2024, featuring in a 28-10 win over Sheffield. That season also saw him play on loan for Cornwall in League One.
Last season saw him head out to Newcastle Thunder and Batley Bulldogs on short-term deals, and with this year being spent at the Rams, it means he hasn’t added any more appearances to that debut game over two years ago.
The Rams currently take up the final play-off spot in the Championship as it stands, with the club placed in 10th after 19 rounds.
Their fixture at the weekend against Keighley Cougars was called off due to an unsafe pitch, and having played fewer games than almost every team in the competition, they are in for a crucial run-in as the finals come ever closer.
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