1:53pm Wednesday 11th June 2008
By David Craven
The biggest and most important Bulls signing for 2009 – and years to come – is already at the club.
Supporters are getting twitchy at the lack of transfer activity ahead of next season, especially with the likes of Leeds, Wigan and Hull having already announced major arrivals from the NRL.
Although Steve McNamara didn’t splash out on any ‘big-name’ attractions this year, with Shontayne Hape imminently departing Odsal and top-earner Iestyn Harris not far behind, fans
are rightly expecting substantial cap to be freed up to entice star talent of their own.
Given the club’s current malaise on the field, you can understand why they are a little concerned there hasn’t been a Danny Buderus or Michael Crocker unveiled to appease their
frustrations.
But tying Sam Burgess down to a long-term contract is THE most important recruitment issue in the pipeline and if Bradford are successful in achieving that then I, for one, would gladly never utter
another word about Aussie superstars.
The fact is Burgess is the best young player on the planet and the Bulls need to build a team – and a profile – around him, rather than fork out astronomical fees on some ageing import
whose best days are behind them or one who turns from a King into a pauper overnight.
Having come through their Academy system, the club have effectively been getting the 19-year-old wonderkid on the cheap for the last couple of seasons but his stock is rising faster than any other
player in the game and that has to be rewarded.
There have already been inevitable rumours about rugby union wanting to sink their claws in to his undeniable talent, while the gifted forward has plenty of admirers down under before he even heads
there with England in the World Cup.
Burgess’ current contract expires at the end of next season and the Bulls are deep in negotiations with him to extend that on a much-improved salary.
Sources say those negotiations are almost complete. The truth of the matter is plenty of that Harris cash will go on upgrading Burgess’ pay into the top bracket.
That may mean another year without a ‘marquee’ signing but will anyone really care if it secures the future of this freakish footballer?
Capturing Burgess’ signature will be the most valuable piece of business Bradford Bulls have completed in a long while and one contract they won’t regret.
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