BRADFORD BULLS have handed teenager Riley Gelder his first professional contract with the club.
The 17-year-old is a product of the Bulls’ pathway, and won both the Players’ Player and Coaches’ Player of the Year awards in his final year at Scholarship level before graduating to their Elite Academy.
He was given his first taste of Super League experience in August as part of Bradford’s travelling squad to face Toulouse, where he was named 19th man.
Gelder will now link up with Kurt Haggerty’s first-team squad for pre-season at the end of this month.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” enthused Gelder, who featured for West Bowling, Queensbury and Siddal as a youngster.
“I am really grateful to be given an opportunity like this and I am ready to put the hard work in.
“Getting the experience of being in and around the first team at training this year has been quality. There are a lot of people to learn from and it is something I can now do even more next year.
“Just looking at players like John Bateman coming in, it will be really good to be in an environment with him, ask him questions and continue to learn.
“Being part of the squad going to Toulouse was a great experience. I was really looked after and just to be abroad in a Super League environment, I loved it.
“Now the main thing for me is to just keep developing and become a better player.”
Haggerty, who handed academy products Alfie Leake and Jamie Gill minutes in Super League this year, hailed Gelder’s attitude and commitment.
He added: “I’ve been really impressed with Riley.
“He’s a first-class young man, he’s very studious and he’s worked extremely hard to give himself the opportunity to become a full-time rugby league player.
“It shows the faith we have in our pathway system and the hard work done by (head of youth) Ryan Hunkin and (academy coach) Jonathan Schofield.
“You’ve seen lads like Alfie Leake and Jamie Gill have the opportunity to step up and play in Super League this year, and it will be no different for Riley, who will be expected to become a full-time rugby player for the Bradford Bulls.”
