ACADEMY stars Ethan Ryan and Joe Lumb have been handed one-year professional contracts with the Bulls for next season.

The pair have impressed for Matt Diskin’s Under-19s in 2015 and will link-up with James Lowes’ first-team squad ahead of pre-season training.

Centre Ryan, 19, has already made a first-team appearance for the Bulls – featuring against Leeds Rhinos in a friendly in January – and was twice named in Lowes’ 19-man squad during the Kingstone Press Championship season.

“Coming through the academy and at the end of it all, getting a first team deal, is a dream come true,” said Ryan.

“I have got to start well and hopefully James (Lowes) thinks I fit into the squad somewhere.

“But first, I have got to work hard in pre-season and prove myself.”

Hooker Lumb, also 19, joined the Bulls Under-19s midway through the 2015 campaign, after being spotted playing for amateur club West Bowling by head of youth development John Bastian.

“I am absolutely delighted that they have both progressed to the first-grade squad,” said Bastian.

“They are only young and are still developing – physically and mentally.

“It is a big transition going into the first grade squad and we need to be patient with them.”

Lumb said: “I’m overwhelmed considering I was playing for my amateur club only three or four months ago.

“It has all happened really quickly. Now I want to push on from what I have done in the academy.”