Super League hopefuls Bradford Bulls have fought off competition to retain the services of one of their strongest and influential forwards at the club, as they look to keep hold of star talent in hopeful preparation for life in the top division.
The Bulls are one of nine teams who made a formal application to the RFL, after believing they have the means and the finances to compete in Super League, and that application will come into play should they not be placed in the top 12 IMG ranking spots.
On-field performance and the ability to provide a competitive playing squad is one of the key factors in the independent panel’s decision in selecting the 13th and 14h team. With this announcement, the Bulls have shown ambition to achieve that, with homegrown talent Ebon Scurr today putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract.
Making his debut for the club in 2019, Scurr has gone on to become a regular member of the Bulls’ forward pack, after establishing himself as one of the league’s best props. Utilised both from the start and off the bench, Scurr’s damaging presence on the field always provides a boost to the West Yorkshire side, and has shown that in his 100+ appearances for the club. The Bulls, this week, also announced the signing of Luke Hooley on a permanent deal from Castleford Tigers.
Speaking on signing the new deal, as he prepares to go into his eighth season with the club, he said: “It’s nice for me having been [here] so long I can hopefully be a part of the process of going up and proving myself with a club I’ve always been at, that is something I have always wanted to try.
“It’s special to be here as I have always been here and over the past three years, the way the club has progressed it made it an easier decision to stay. Having people like Brian Noble around made the decision a lot easier because of how helpful he has been to my progress. He is always truthful with me, understands my workload and tries his best to manage that.
“Having a homegrown connection is a nice thing, it wasn’t as straight forward as what it seems coming through the system. There were a lot of challenges in the way because I’m not a stereotypical looking prop! Being here is familiar and since I have been here so long, with the way things are going I feel like I owe it to the club to give it a try here and see what we can do next year. ”
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“Massive coup” – Bradford Bulls head coach “confident” prop “can play Super League” after contract announcement
Bulls head coach, Brian Noble, who will leave his role at the end of the year with Kurt Haggerty taking over as head coach, said: “I think there are a lot of players in the Championship that can play Super League now and I know what Ebon does in the Championship and I know what Ebon is capable of in Super League.
“To retain his services, because they were sought after, is a massive coup for this club. There’s a lot of work to be done if we’re at a higher level, he’s proved with the amount of attention he’s had for his signature just how highly he is respected in the Championship but I am confident he can play Super League.”
