Hull move for Jason Crookes

Hull have signed Bradford winger Jason Crookes on a three-year deal.

Crookes, 22, scored seven tries in 13 appearances during a difficult year with the Bulls, and now moves on to the KC Stadium for 2013.

He said: “I think every player knows what a massive club Hull is. Coming through the ranks as a kid, I watched the likes of Gareth Raynor and Matt Sing play for Hull and they were two of my favourite players.

“For the last three years at Bradford, we’ve not made the play-offs and that’s been disappointing but Hull have done well this year considering the injuries they’ve had and I think we can really push on next year. 

“It’s a really good club, it’s run very professionally and Peter Gentle is a coach I’m looking forward to working with. I just can’t wait to get started now.” 

The Huddersfield-born back made his Super League debut against Hull back in 2009, having cut his professional rugby league teeth during a loan spell with Widnes in 2008.

He spent 2011 on a dual-registration deal with Championship side Sheffield, before forging his way in to the Bulls first team in 2012.

Head Coach Peter Gentle said: “With the way we want the team to play, we identified we were going to need speed in our side, particularly the outside backs and Jason certainly brings that.

“He is a player we first noticed in pre-season when he ran down Tom Briscoe and we’ve followed him since then. He works very hard at both ends of the field, he is quick, strong and very versatile, as he can play at wing or centre and down either side.”

Crookes becomes Hull’s fifth new face for 2013, following on from the signings of Gareth Ellis, Daniel Holdsworth, Ben Galea and Joe Arundel.