Bulls tie Bateman to new deal

Bradford's rebuilding efforts have received a huge boost as talented teenager John Bateman has pledged his future to the club.

The 19-year-old second-row forward, who was shortlisted for Super League player of the year, is widely regarded as one of the hottest properties in the competition.

Administrators running the club in the summer ignored lucrative offers for Bateman and he has signed a new, improved three-year contract that will keep him at Odsal until the end of 2015.

Bateman, who captained the England Academy squad on their trip to Australia earlier this year, had 12 months left on his original deal but was happy to commit himself to the club under the new Omar Khan regime.

"It's been a long time waiting, with what's been happening at the club and I'm really happy to get it sorted," he said.

"There's security here now and everyone knows what's going on.

"People have been asking me where I'm going but from day one I've always said I want to stay at Bradford. Hopefully I've given the fans a bit back of what they've done for me."

Bradford's new head coach Francis Cummins feels the Bulls have put a marker down with the announcement.

"It's a huge signing," said Cummins, who has succeeded coach of the year Mick Potter.

"It sends out a signal of the ambition of the owners at the club, not just to our own fans but the game as a whole."