BRADFORD BULLS coach Kurt Haggerty knows his two most recent signings for 2027 will return to the club with some unfinished business.
Having already confirmed that Academy product John Bateman will return to Odsal from the NRL next season, Bradford announced last Friday that James Bentley will also be back at his first club in 2027, having signed a three-year deal.
Bateman initially left Bradford for Wigan Warriors in November 2013, when the Bulls were in the midst of an earlier looming financial crisis, while Bentley joined Warrington in 2018, following the club’s relegation to League One.
But they will now pull on the red, amber and black once again, with Haggerty excited to see them all back at Odsal.
“Bringing some of the Bradford-produced players back was a part of our recruitment strategy,” admitted Haggerty.
“I sat down with my staff, and Jason Hirst and Brian Noble and looked at the guys who had been at Bradford before and have gone on to have great careers, and to try and bring them home. But they could have played here for ten years and if they didn’t fit my system and style I wouldn’t have signed them.
“I look for certain things when I recruit players. I look for professionalism, a competitor and an aggressor. James and John match pretty much all of that.
“Those two in particular have said there’s some unfinished business here, and I pushed that narrative with them. They’ll be back here with a bit between their teeth, because they didn’t leave on their own terms.
“They both really want to play for Bradford Bulls again and that’s important to me and to the group.
“When we’ve got James and John in the back row next season, our halfback will certainly look up to see what shape they’ll be running, so having that intensity and aggression in the team will give us a bit of an edge.”
Cameron Scott, who will also return to Odsal after coming up through their ranks at his home town club but not featuring in the first team, also left the club for Hull FC following that relegation.