Bulls swoop for Briggs

Bradford have swooped to sign stand-off Kyle Briggs from Championship side Featherstone.

Briggs, 23, scored 376 points in 43 appearances for Rovers after signing from Doncaster.

A product of Stanningley ARLFC, Briggs started his career at Leeds and won the Player’s Player of the Year award last term.

He said: “It came out of the blue and happened really quickly but it was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. To get the chance to join Bradford is fantastic and I’d like to thank Featherstone for agreeing to release me to join the Bulls.  I’m sad to be leaving there but opportunities like this don’t come round that often.  I owe a lot to Daryl Powell and Ryan Sheridan at Featherstone. They’ve done wonders for me over the last couple of years.”

Briggs becomes the second member of Featherstone’s minor-premiership winning team of 2010 to be snared by a Super League giant, following Zak Hardaker‘s transfer to Leeds. The winger will however turn out for Rovers on loan in 2011.

Featherstone head coach Daryl Powell said: “I am delighted for him. He is a quality individual and I have been proud to see him develop within the club over the last 18 months/two years.  It is a great opportunity for him and I hope he will be able to take it. I am confident he is a player who can step up and have an impact at Super League level.”

For the Bulls, Briggs is their second foray in to the Championship for new signings, following on from the capture of utility Shad Royston from Halifax.

New head coach Mick Potter added: “It’s an opportunity for Kyle to show what he’s got. He’s a player who’s been on Bradford’s radar for a couple of years and it’s a chance for him to get a start. There’s a bit of a void to be filled. Even though we’ve got players to play stand-off, there’s an opportunity for someone to step up and really secure it as their position.”

The move comes with news that wantaway half back Matt Orford has begun training with Canberra Raiders over a possible return to the NRL.