A former club captain has returned to Bradford Bulls in a new role for the 2026 season following the side’s promotion to Super League.
Steve Crossley, who retired in 2023 after a season with Hunslet, played the majority of his career with Bradford, after debuting for them in 2010.
His 14-year career saw three separate spells at Odsal and he now returns for a fourth, albeit in an off-field role after being appointed as an assistant coach for the club’s academy.
Having progressed through the Bradford scholarship system, it’s a full circle moment for Crossley who is a boyhood fan of the Bulls and would go on to captain them for five years, including during their time in League One.
Crossley’s appointment was confirmed by the Bulls with the former player also taking to social media after that confirmation, stating: “Always proud to represent.”
Steve Crossley appointed Bradford Bulls academy assistant
Crossley had said far more in Bradford’s own statement, speaking about how the move came about as well as his own coaching experience.
“It’s a proud moment to be back, just as it was in my playing days,” Crossley told Bradford Bulls’ media.
“Schoey [Jonathan Schofield] and Ryan Hunkin gave me a call a few weeks ago to invite me down for a chat to see if I could assist with the Elite Academy and Reserves and whenever there is a chance to come back to Bradford I would always jump at it because of how proud I’ve been to represent the club.
“I came through the Scholarship system all the way through to the First Team, there’s everything here for the younger lads to progress themselves and make themselves into a potential First Team Super League player at the Bulls. I’m very excited to share my story but also put them through what it takes to be able to do that in terms of discipline, attitude, work ethic and mental toughness.”
Admitting that he had expected to leave the sport following retirement, Crossley explained how he’d taken up coaching at a local club and would even consider a role as a head coach in years to come.
He explained: “I thought after hanging my boots up I would walk away from the sport but after a year out I got the itch again, got asked by Queensbury one of Bradford’s community clubs to take them on and we ran away with the league and that gave me the buzz back. I have a lot of ideas I want to pass forward and I would like to go into being a Head Coach at some stage in my career.
“I’ve already been in touch with Kurt Haggerty, who I’ve played with and against, he’s had an excellent apprenticeship under Paul Rowley and will be an exciting addition for the Bulls. He’s going to play some exciting, free-flowing rugby and defend aggressively and that is my coaching philosophy too. It’s going to be an exciting year and I’m looking forward to it.”
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Always proud to represent 🔴🟠⚫️ Let’s go 👊🏻 https://t.co/4LaSFrSVOw
— Steve Crossley (@SteveCrossley2) November 8, 2025
