Potential Bradford Bulls transfer targets including Wigan Warriors half-back

Championship side Bradford Bulls appear to be in desperate need of a new half-back.

Lee Gaskell tore his hamstring in Round One of the season, and Tom Holmes is yet to make his way back to match fitness following treatment for cancer.

Therefore, the Bulls are left with just one first-team half-back, former Leeds Rhinos man Jordan Lilley.

In absence of other options, forward John Davies has filled-in, to varying degrees of success, but the 33-year-old may need to return to his natural role due to both Zac Fulton and Chester Butler being forced off through injury in their game against York Knights.

Head coach Eamon O’Carroll said after that game: “Whatever’s happened today doesn’t change anything in terms of trying to look at who we might bring in or who’s coming back into contention for us.

“We’ll keep looking at that, but we won’t react just off the back of this one defeat and simply get the next man available before Widnes.

“We’ve got some good players in this group and Tom Holmes and Gaskell are not far off returning, but if we still have to keep looking into the transfer market, we will.”

With this in mind, here are some suggestions as to who they could look to sign, to ease their troubles.

Three potential Super League half-backs Bradford Bulls could sign

George Flanagan Jr – Huddersfield Giants

Bradford Bulls have confirmed that George Flanagan Jnr has accepted a full time playing contract with Huddersfield Giants to commence in the 2024 season.

— Bradford Bulls (@OfficialBullsRL) December 21, 2022

Flanagan came through the Bulls academy ranks and made his debut for the first-team at just 17 years-old, and moved to the Giants ahead of the 2023 season.

A boyhood Bradford fan, his debut was made alongside his father of the same name, in a game against London Broncos, where he scored.

The youngster made six first-team appearances for the Bulls, scoring four tries.

He’s also adept at kicking.

Although predominantly a full-back, Flanagan is capable of playing in the halves.

Dropping back into the Championship temporarily could be vital for his development.

This year, despite starting the first-team’s pre-season games, he’s been playing for the Giants’ reserve side.

When announcing his signing, the Giants called him ‘the hottest young talent in rugby league’ – he needs senior games.

Jack Farrimond – Wigan Warriors

Young Farrimond has only made one appearance for the Warriors this season, which came against the Super League’s bottom side, London Broncos.

He was Wigan’s 2023 Academy Player of the Year and impressed as a stand-out player for Lancashire in their academy Origin victory.

As well as scoring 11 tries in 12 games for the academy side last year, he kicked 71 goals: an impressive output.

Alongside his academy exploits, he was part of the Reserves side that won the Grand Final last year, having been a regular name on their teamsheet.

In pre-season, he scored against Wakefield Trinity and Hull FC and showed that he was more than capable of stepping up to playing at senior level.

After receiving his first first-team squad number for the 2024 season, he may feel that regular game time for Bradford Bulls in the Championship would be better for his development than watching Wigan’s stars from the bench.

Ugo Tison – Catalans Dragons

The Frenchman is currently on a short-term loan deal at London Broncos, but if things don’t work out in Wimbledon, a move to the Bulls may be on the horizon.

He made his professional debut in 2022 against Wigan Warriors but has only played once in Super League since then.

His debut was impressive though, and starred in an 18-10 victory against one of Super League’s stand-out clubs.

A half-back or hooker, the 22-year-old is only on a two-week deal with the Plough Lane outfit, meaning he’s potentially available to go elsewhere after that.

When signing his first professional deal, he said: “A dream come true and now it’s my turn to do everything to make it as long as possible.

“I’m going to give everything as soon as I get the opportunity to play.”

Previously, loan moves to Toulouse Olympique and Wakefield Trinity have helped to further his development, so a move to Bradford Bulls may be seen as another good move for him – to make his future at Catalans a better one.