Newcastle Thunder complete stunning coup of Bradford forward

Newcastle Thunder have secured the services of forward Sam Hallas for the 2022 Betfred Championship season from Bradford Bulls.

Joining on a two-year deal, Hallas is a product of the Leeds Rhinos academy who has spent much of his professional career with the Bulls, having signed for the club for the 2018 season.

Starting out at Stanningley ARLFC, Hallas joined the Rhinos youth ranks at Under 15s level and worked his way up to a full first-team debut at the 2016 Magic Weekend.

Playing a total of four games for Leeds, he made his first appearances for Bradford on loan in February 2017 before making the permanent switch for the following campaign.

Having featured in almost 90 matches for the Bulls, he has steadily grown in stature during his time there, rising to the role of vice-captain ahead of the aborted 2020 season.

Playing much of his rugby at hooker, Hallas heads to Kingston Park to predominately fill the club’s loose forward berth and to be one of the leaders in the pack.

Moving to the city on who’s turf he made his professional bow, Hallas is eager to embrace the challenges ahead.

He said: “Coming to Newcastle is something really different. I’ve had a couple of mates play for Thunder and they have said that it is a great club, so I came up and met Freddy and Denis and the whole place just really appeals to me.   

“It will be a change of pace and one that I am really looking forward to. It’s a new and exciting start and I can’t wait to get ripped into pre-season.

“There is an exciting vibe around the place and we as players can push that to build something special. I’m a believer in expansion and I think Newcastle is a fantastic place to be doing it and I’m really looking forward to representing the club.”

One of the first signings secured by Thunder for the 2022 campaign, head coach Eamon O’ Carroll says the player is a key capture for his team.

O’ Carroll said: “Sam is a chief of the team; he will do all the little 1% effort areas that spectators might not necessarily see but allows other people in the team to go and do their bit.

“He is really efficient in what he does, he’s fit and is a fantastic person and is a signing I was really keen to get over the line

“He is really honest and how you see him perform on the field is how he behaves off it and I think he is going to be really good for us in terms of how we want to play.”