Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty confirmed that several Super League clubs turned down loan approaches on account of a full slate of reserve fixtures, something that left the Bulls boss handing out a debut to an academy product in the club’s 48-12 loss to Hull KR.
Jamie Gill was one of three players to make their Super League debut for the Bulls with ex-Hull FC man Will Gardiner returning from his long-term injury, whilst veteran winger Greg Eden was also signed on a short-term deal.
Gill, 20, had been playing at Dewsbury Rams on loan before an ankle injury ruled him out but upon recovering and playing for the reserves, he was thrust into Saturday’s Super League action against Hull KR.
Over a dozen senior players are currently injured for Bradford with the Bulls having just 15 available for training on Tuesday, and that saw Haggerty talk a lot about his past experience at Salford and the duty of care he must offer to protect players.
Confirming no fresh injuries this week, Haggerty spoke post-match on BullsTV about how difficult it can be to throw young players into such an environment.
“I was really careful on this because you have an academy and reserves but I’ve been at Salford when we were in the mess and you have to play players that shouldn’t be playing at this level yet.
“The detriment it has to that player and that group is so severe. You’ve got to be so careful so to play Jamie, who has been playing at Dewsbury and against men, I was very comfortable.”
On Gill’s performance, Haggerty said: “I thought Jamie Gill was brilliant. He stepped in and he looked competent, he was physically good. He carried the ball and did a little bit of damage in his carries so it’s a really proud day for us as a club, and for Jamie and his family.”
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Why Bradford Bulls couldn’t add loan players
One academy talent who was named in Bradford’s initial 19-man squad but ultimately didn’t play was Harvey Ward with Kurt Haggerty explaining his duty of care to protect the youngster.
The Bulls coach said: “We had no outside backs this week. If we wouldn’t have signed Greg Eden then I would have probably had to play young Harvey Ward, who is not ready to play against men yet.
“He’s on his own journey in the reserves so we’d have been in a position where we’d have really struggled and it’s a duty of care for me to look after that player.
“As much as we have the academy and reserves, it’s my job and duty of care to make sure we put the right people in at the right times, and if I don’t need to use them then I won’t.”
Something that was frustrating for the Bulls this past week was their inability to add any loanees from fellow Super League clubs, something that was a direct consequence of the reserves competition being in action.
Haggerty confirmed: “I think I’ve spoken to maybe five or six clubs and they’ve all had exactly the same narrative that ‘you can have players next week but not for this week with the reserves playing’.
“If I’m perfectly honest, I don’t fully understand because there’s an opportunity for them to play Super League but every club is different. We’ve dealt with the situation and we’ve come away, I think, earning a bit of respect today.”
With no reserves game this coming week, the Bulls could be flooded with loan options but Haggerty said he doesn’t expect too many additions whilst also admitting that he may have a couple of injured players returning.
On loanees, he said: “If we can bring one or two in, I will look at it but if not we’ve shown that whatever we put out there, we’re going to have a crack.”
As for returnees, he admitted: “I’m not sure right now, maybe one or two but that would be a push where maybe they shouldn’t play. But we may need them to play.”
