SHEFFIELD EAGLES coach Craig Lingard reckons he’s signed a “try-scoring machine” in Kieran Gill.

The centre has penned a two-year deal with the club from Bradford Bulls, where he scored 75 tries in 111 appearances.

His overall career tally, following past spells with Castleford Tigers and Newcastle Thunder, is 188 games played, 144 tries scored.

Gill was a key figure as Bradford finished third in the Championship and reached the play-off semi-finals three years running.

But following the Bulls’ promotion to Super League for next season, the 29-year-old was released from his contract to join Sheffield.

Lingard said: “Gilly has been a top-end Championship player for most of his career, a try-scoring machine, and hopefully he can continue to score tries here at Sheffield next year.

“He’s really a nice and genuine bloke to have around, everyone speaks highly of him and for us to get someone of his ability is a good coup for us.

“Hopefully it shows what we’re about and what we want to do this season.”

Gill said: “I loved my time at Bradford, but all things come to an end and I’m ready to start the next journey with Sheffield.

“I want a good push. I’m not just here for an easy ride. I want to strive as well as I want Sheffield to strive.”

On his exit from Bradford to remain a part-time player, he added: “I wish them all the best.

“I wanted to get my priorities straight and I had to do right by me and my family and everyone around me first and foremost. It was a tough one to take but I knew I had to.”

Gill is the seventh new signing at Sheffield, who endured a difficult first campaign with Lingard at the helm, finishing 11th of 13 clubs with only six league wins.

George Griffin and Josh Hodson have been brought in from Castleford Tigers while Joe Brown and Conor Fitzsimmons both joined from York Knights.

Harry Bowes and Marcus Green have made loan moves permanent.