THOMAS Doyle today insisted it was the only club for him after putting pen to paper on a new Bulls deal.

The 21-year-old hooker becomes the latest in a growing number of John Kear’s squad to be tied down for the 2021 season.

Doyle burst on the scene in 2019 when he bagged two tries on his debut against Rochdale Hornets.

He carried that form into this year’s abortive Championship campaign with further scores in successive games against London Broncos and Featherstone Rovers.

The number nine insisted that leaving the Bulls was never an option as he focuses on continuing to impress Kear and help the club push towards promotion next year.

Doyle said: “I am very pleased to have signed. It did not enter my mind to go elsewhere.

“It is a good group of lads in a very tight-knit group here.

“John was very important in my decision as were all the coaching staff. As a group we all try catch his eye with our performances.”

Doyle has been learning from George Flanagan and Sam Hallas and the rookie rake is tipped for a big future in the game.

He has his eyes on reaching Super League with the Bulls after holding his own against the top teams in the Championship.

Doyle added: “I thought I started the year quite well and built a lot of confidence from the games against London and Featherstone, two teams who were serious contenders for promotion.

“That is now the target for us next year and I know all the lads will be on the same wavelength.

“I want to help towards that goal and get as much game-time as I can. I am very happy to be doing that under John Kear.”

Kear can see the potential in Doyle, another of the rising stars that he hopes can grow their game with the club.

The Bulls boss said: “Doyley is a really good player and ever since his two-try debut against Rochdale everybody has said, ‘wow this kid has something!’

“He has not disappointed in any game he has played and he is definitely someone whose better years are in front of him.

“But he is a very good player now with a great deal of improvement to come.

“He is not overawed by who he is playing against or with and he is very respectful and that is a sign of the bloke we have got.

“I am delighted he is here for another year and he is developing rapidly into a very good player.

“The squad is shaping up very nicely with more to be announced in due course, 2021 is shaping up to be a very good year - but hopefully we can get back out there in 2020 for our supporters.”

The Bulls are still waiting for official confirmation from the RFL of the proposed autumn tournament.

They were the first of five clubs to put their name forward for the competition, which had been devised for teams beneath the top flight to have some meaningful rugby after the Championship and League One were ditched this year.

The clubs held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the possible logistics of a round-robin competition and the RFL are expected to make a decision early next week on whether to press ahead. It has been planned to start on October 4.