Bradford signing saga rumbles on

Representatives of the players’ association have met with Bradford and the RFL to discuss the confusion surrounding the Bulls signing of Matt Orford.

The deal was thrown in to doubt last week when Gold Coast winger Chris Walker claimed to have already agreed a deal with the Yorkshire club, which would see him take Bradford’s final import slot – meaning any deal for Orford could not go through.

Walker turned down a two-year contract offer from Catalans to sign for Bradford, and was due to join the club for training at the end of the month, but is now in limbo following Bradford’s move for Orford.

Walker’s agent Chris Orr said: “Chris Walker and Brett Kearney did their contracts at the same time but one kid doesn’t know what his future is, and the other one is getting on a plane to fly over there.”

Bradford have since released scrum-half Paul Deacon to take up a deal with Wigan, meaning they would be left short in the halves if the Orford deal doesn’t go through.

Orr said he had forwarded documentation to the players’ association, who are taking up the issue on Walker’s behalf, proving that the former Origin star had a deal with Bradford, although the Bulls have never publicly announced it or sought to register a contract with the RFL.

It could also raise question marks over the future of ex-Manly star Orford, the 2008 Dally M award winner.

Orr added: “When Greg Bird couldn’t get a visa to play for them, Bradford didn’t want him to play for anyone.”