Bradford Bulls have announced that academy graduate Jacob Bateman has penned a new two-year deal to commit his future to the club until the end of the 2026 season.
The 18-year-old made his senior debut against Sheffield Eagles in May, having impressed for both the club’s academy and reserve sides under Glenn Morrison in 2024.
Bateman, the cousin of former Bulls star John – who currently plies his trade in the NRL with Wests Tigers – is the latest Bulls academy product to make the senior cut, a tradition the club has prided itself on for decades.
First team head coach Eamon O’Carroll has paid tribute to the work done in Bradford’s academy system to produce players like teenager Bateman.
He said: “It's brilliant and hopefully there’s many more lads to come through.
“There is a young, exciting group coming through who are even younger than Jacob and the staff, including Ryan Hunkin, Glenn Morrison and Jonathan Schofield, are doing a fantastic job with our youth players.
“I am really pleased for Jacob, he comes from a good family, having met his father and grandfather on a number of occasions.
“I think this is the best place for him to develop on and off the field and we want to be a part of that journey to help him along.
“He is desperate to play for Bradford, which is fantastic, and hopefully there are many more to follow him.”
As part of young Bateman's deal, he will also complete a two-year apprenticeship as a bricklayer.
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