RILEY DEAN has reflected on his time in Super League with Bradford Bulls, admitting that he didn’t expect to be offered a new deal.
Dean joined the Odsal club in May, having excelled in the Championship with Oldham, but couldn’t inspire the Bulls to finish away from the bottom of the Super League ladder.
The 25-year-old registered ten goals and three tries in 12 appearances for Bradford, but he admits he wasn’t at his best during his short spell.
“I’m my own worst critic,” Dean told the Telegraph and Argus.
“With my performances and where I was at personally, I wasn’t expecting to be offered a new deal.
“But I probably showed what I could do in those last three games and played a bit better.”
Now with Championship side Halifax Panthers for 2027, Dean has no regrets about making the step up to the top flight – even if it did take him a while to get used to head coach Kurt Haggerty’s style of play.
“I was really happy to step up and have a good go,” he added.
“It was a challenge I enjoyed and I enjoyed the year.
“It took a couple of weeks to get used to Kurt’s style and I didn’t play the first game after I arrived, which was probably the best thing for me.
“Once I did get used to things, I thought I did alright.”
Finishing bottom with seven wins, Bradford’s first season back in Super League for over a decade didn’t end well, but Dean believes the players tried their utmost to turn things around in a difficult campaign.
“It’s obviously devastating and frustrating,” he said.
“But the boys played tough and through injuries they probably shouldn’t have done.
“It’s a credit to the lads for showing up and putting in that effort and dig.”