BRADFORD Bulls have announced the signing of experienced Super League forward Michael Lawrence on a two-year deal from Huddersfield Giants.

The 32-year-old, who featured for Jamaica at this year’s Rugby League World Cup, has made over 300 appearances for the Giants, having made his debut there in 2007.

Lawrence was awarded a testimonial year in 2019 for his loyal service to the club, with Bulls providing the opposition for the fixture marking the occasion.

Having made the transition to forward from outside back, the Huddersfield-born star was Super League’s top tackler in 2020 – and is eager to rip in wearing the red, amber and black of Bradford over the next two years.

He said: “I had a good meeting earlier this week with Brian Noble and I am really excited about the direction the club is travelling in and I want to be a part of that for the next two years.

“On a personal level, it is a step out of the comfort zone into a different environment having been at Huddersfield for 15 years.

“I reached a stage where I felt I needed a new challenge and a new environment, and Brian had a lot of things to say that were really positive about Bulls.

“This is a club with a massive history, I grew up watching them in the late 90s and early 2000s when they were the best club in the world.

“This is a famous club and I am looking forward to getting started.

“I want to continue playing great rugby, I want to have an impact on the field and to contribute to the environment.

“With the leadership qualities I have developed, having captained Huddersfield from a young age and been in the leadership group since, that experience I have had can help the younger players and help build a great, winning culture.

“The players that have come in so far have excited me.

“Bodene (Thompson) has massive experience, Jack Walker is a great player and in the spine there’s Tom (Holmes), Jordan Lilley and Dec (Patton) so it has all the ingredients to be successful.

“I wanted to be a part of that and I think I can contribute.

“The Bradford fans have always been a very vocal, passionate group – I have always loved playing at Odsal so to have them onside will be great.

“I am looking forward to getting out there, you will see I work hard in the way I play. I look forward to getting started, ripping in and making a positive contribution.”

Bulls head coach Mark Dunning has hailed Lawrence's capture as a 'massive coup' - insisting his 'no holds barred' approach will prove invaluable in 2023 and beyond.

Dunning said: “I am absolutely delighted.

“This is a deal that has been going on for a while and we are over the moon to get it over the line.

“He is very much a ‘know how’ player, he is a player that is no holds barred and he rips into everything he does.

“He is a quality individual who we are really looking forward to joining the group and adding to what we have already got.

“We have brought in some experience with the likes of Bodene Thompson and Michael is right up alongside Bodene in terms of quality.

“He is a side before self person, which is exactly what we’re looking for.

“The one per centers Michael does are invaluable to any team.

“We are trying to get experience across the board to guide us through sticky situations when our backs are against the wall.

“Michael ticks that box and it is a massive coup for this club to get a player of his calibre as he still has an awful lot to offer.

“The effect it will have on the younger blokes in particular will be invaluable, it will bring them on leaps and bounds and it is a really exciting deal for the club.

“Michael would not come here if he didn’t believe in what we are trying to do.

“All the players we have brought in have full belief in what we are trying to do to get this club back to where it needs to be, but by earning our way there.”