With the season unfortunately coming to an end this evening this is how I make up next year at moment

Players out of contract still
1. Joe Arundel 202
2. Jorge Taufua 202
3. Lee Gaskell 202
4. Jordan Baldwinson 202
5. Chester Butler 202
6. John Davies 202
7. Will Oakes 202
8. Zac Fulton 202
9. Jaden Barraclough (H/L) 202
10. Max Lehmann 202
11. Harvey Makin 202
12. Zach Fishwick 202
13. Jarrod Sammut 202
14. Romain Franco 202
15. Jack Smith 202
16. Dom Waites
17. Will Adams
18. Mackenzie Scurr

2025 So Far

1. Tom Holmes 2025
2.
3. Jayden Myers 2025
4. Kieran Gill 2026
5.
6. Joe Keyes 2025
7. Jordan Lilley (vc) 2026
8. Emmanuel Waine 2026
9. Mitch Souter 2025
10. Ebon Scurr 2025
11. Matty Gee 2026
12. Keven Appo 2026
13. James Donaldson 2026
14. Tyran Ott 2025
15. Dan Smith 2025
16. Sam Hallas 2025
17. Billy Jowitt 2025
18. Jacob Bateman 2026
19. Jayden Okunbor 2025
20. Logan Bayliss-Brow 2026
21. Nathan Mason 2025
22. Eliot Peposhi 2026
23. Ronan Michael 2026
24. Michael Lawrence 2025
25. Franklin Pele 2025

I assume Fulton is leaving unless the club are saving his retention for the season ticket launch. Might be worth offering Sammut a deal as a back-up halfback. He's offered more than Gaskell has this season. Franco also seems to be quite handy and I'd like to keep him as rotation/back up. Taufua is worth keeping but his discipline is questionable. Not sure if Arundel, Butler, Davies or Baldwinson would get in the 2025 side.

I'd keep Butler if he can get fit for next year. One of our best back-rowers IMO

Meadows will be decent addition for his utility value.

Donaldson looked a level above in that one game against Fax.

I think Keyes will transform us. We've played with one half-back for most of the year. Lilley has had a Hooker or second-rower as his half back partner most games. Not really a surprise we've lacked game management. It's not just a case of having a second half-back, genuinely believe we've got one of the best in the league in Keyes. Also Goal-kicking & drop-goals should improve.

If we don't win either the 1895 Cup or the league next year we have massively underachieved IMO

Agree with all that. Lilley's not the greatest game manager nor is his kicking game that consistent either so Keyes coming in and Meadows (presumably signed) too will give him the support he needs.

We look really strong in the forwards - plenty of depth at prop. It'll be interesting to see how we recruit in the backs. If Taufua stays it we'll need cover for his inevitable suspensions. We need more than two centres and I'm unconvinced that Jowitt has the quality needed to cover fullback.

What's the deal with Peposhi? Is he ready to kick on and push to play first team or is he nowhere near yet? Has anyone see him play?

Definitely has talent. Would expect him to get more minutes in 2025.

I like Peposhi. Didn't take a backward step when he played.

He's just a bit raw, needs more gametime at Championship level to reach his potential.

I see the club have announced James Meadows

I thought he was announced ages ago, or was it just a thing that everyone somehow knew?

Not made official until now.

Think that's an important signing for the club. Can easily play FB or HB. So Important having fit half-backs and not trying to shoe-horn in a loose forward or Hooker there. No coincidence teams like Widnes had their best season for a long time as their half-backs Gilmote and Lyon were fit all season.

Having three decent halfbacks - not seen that since 2012.

I see on Facebook some folk are saying they'd rather we signed Sammut on a long term contract. I'm not sure they realise how old he is.

Sammut could be useful as a 4th cheap option. But with his job I'm not sure he would be available all year anyway.

Anyway just start of the off-season, sure we've some signings up our sleeve.

I'm sure there are more to come since we have hardly any backs. Heard a rumour we're interested in Walmsley who left Fax for Wakey - not sure if he's signed up with Wakey for 2025.

He is

So much for that one then.

Lilley, Meadows, Keyes and now Ackroyd years since halves looked so healthy

Wonder if the coaching recruitment will hold up further player recruitment. We need some backs.

Not sure what i gather still 1/2 tba

https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... eased-list Joe Arundel Lee Gaskell Jordan Baldwinson Chester Butler John Davies Eribe Doro Will Oakes Zac Fulton Max Lehmann Harvey Makin Jarrod Sammut Romain Franco Jaden Barraclough Dom Waites All released/loan ended Still talking to Jorge Taufua.

https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... eased-list Joe Arundel Lee Gaskell Jordan Baldwinson Chester Butler John Davies Eribe Doro Will Oakes Zac Fulton Max Lehmann Harvey Makin Jarrod Sammut Romain Franco Jaden Barraclough Dom Waites All released/loan ended Still talking to Jorge Taufua.

Most of those seem pretty obvious - either youngsters who never stepped up or older, injury-prone players who weren't worth keeping around.

Doro is off to Hull KR, and I assume Fulton is signing somewhere else (so no need to keep Lehmann)

Bit surprised at Franco and, maybe, Butler

Agree
Think Butler was too injury prone to keep around.
Fulton was offered a new deal but turned it down to return to Australia I guess the homesick rumours were true.
Franco is a surprise.
I wonder if the Walmsley rumours are true.

We released Olpherts but retained Walmsley so this would suggest the latter is in our plans for next season. The former was interesting Featherstone but, I suppose it’s what your new coach and the player himself wants.

Disappointing for Butler, thought he was one of our best back-rowers when fit.

A lot of players moving on. Wonder if we're hoping some from the academy will be ready to step up. Always felt like we had a gap in our conveyor belt with Lawford & Flanagan being sold. Never really felt the names who signed from the academy last year were going to break through.

Maybe Ackroyd and Bateman will kick on a bit in 2025. I hope we do see some more coming through as to compete at the level we're now at we won't be able to afford to sign ready made players in all positions.

Can't really argue with any of the departures. The only one I'd wanted to keep was Fulton and he's obviously keen to get back home (watch him turn up at Salford or something now!).

It does show that we need to recruit some backs. I'd re-sign Taufua even if he's had some problems with his tackling technique. His carries are key for getting us on the front foot. We need at least three wingers in the squad and another centre. Arundal has been decent for us but was struggling with his injuries. Wonder where he's gone. He's a good defensive centre when he's fit.