BRADFORD Bulls have announced that Jordan Baldwinson has signed a two-year deal to join them from Championship rivals York City Knights.

The 26-year-old is back for a ‘third’ spell in the red, amber and black – having spent time on loan at the club in 2014 and 2021 and this time, it’s permanent.

Having come through the Leeds Rhinos Academy, Baldwinson has featured for the likes of Featherstone Rovers, Halifax RLFC and Wakefield Trinity in recent years, before joining the Knights in 2019.

The powerful middle insists returning to Bulls is a ‘huge honour’ and he wants to play his part in the club’s push for Super League.

“I am absolutely buzzing to be back on a permanent basis,” said Baldwinson.

“I have done two spells now so I am glad to be back for a third time and I have been itching to come back to the club since enjoying time here when I was 19.

“It is quite exciting for me, it is a huge honour to come to a club as big as Bradford and I am looking forward to ripping in and having a good two years.

“I know Mark Dunning well and speaking with him and John (Kear) about their plans I am really excited.

“They have big aspirations to push for Super League and despite the disappointment at the weekend, you can see the trajectory of the club is on the up.

“I want to be involved in those games at the top of the table and be fighting in and among the play-off positions.

“That is what I want to be about and I want to bring some value to a really strong Bradford squad and help push us a bit further.

“I was really happy when I heard I was coming back on loan this year and I was so surprised by how welcoming the boys and the fans were.

“I got a really good vibe about the club and I came away thinking that it was a club I would love to come to.

“Then speaking to the likes of Jordan Lilley, who I’ve known for a while, swayed my decision, so I am looking forward to getting in and ripping into training.”

Baldwinson also reserved special praise for the Bradford supporters, who he has experienced support ‘for and against’ in 2021.

He said: “The Bradford fans deserve a top team and hopefully we can deliver that.

“I got a taste of that away at Halifax earlier this year, they mean a lot.

“Players want to play in front of supporters like them and they can be the extra player on the pitch when times get tough.

“I am really looking forward to getting in, soaking up the atmosphere and hopefully making a big difference to this Bradford side.”