Bradford Bulls sign up academy duo to first-team contracts as Super League squad takes shape

Bradford Bulls have announced that two more players will be joining their first team squad ahead of next season, after signing an academy duo to their first full-time contracts at the club.

Kurt Haggerty already has 26 players in his first-team squad, with eight of those coming as new signings.

He has now added two further players looking to break into the Super League 17 and earn their chance to play in the top flight.

Forward pair Cameron Bate and Alfie Leake are those players, and after progressing through the club’s youth setup, have now penned first-team deals with the club.

Bate, who represented Lancashire in Academy Origin this year, said that he can’t thank the club enough for helping him get to this stage.

He said: “It’s a dream come true, considering where I was last year. Bradford have been brilliant with me, really helped me through and got me to where I need where I can now get full-time experience.

“The coaches here and the lads who are coming into the team will help my development, they’re going to push me and push each other so my game, both mentality and physically, will be developed.

“I am looking forward to pre-season, trying to get in Kurt’s eyesight and on his radar and do my best to knock on the door for next season. It was good to get a taste in the first team towards the back end of the year, it can be uncomfortable coming out of your comfort zone when you first start but now I am fully settled in and looking forward to the season coming up.”

Leake, who originally signed a three-year deal at the start of this year, added:

“It feels good to be here heading into Super League, I am very appreciative of the club for keeping me on. I spoke to Kurt when he rang me to congratulate me on my new deal and I just said thank you for keeping me on.

“It is a dream come true to play Super League and be a big part of history with Bradford being back in Super League, so I am proud to be able to play my part moving forward.

“I feel good after my injury and looking forward to full-time which will help speed up my development alongside some of the other lads too. I am glad to be able to redeem myself coming back from that injury, be able to train well and show what I can do next year.”

Serious About Rugby League has launched a brand new podcast which can be watched in full on our YouTube channel here.