Bradford Bulls: Ainscough ready to take step into the unknown (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls: Shaun Ainscough ready to take step into the unknown

7:50am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in Bulls By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Shaun Ainscough admitted he did not sleep properly for a fortnight before opting to quit the Bulls for a “life-changing” move to Australia.

The 22-year-old will head Down Under in January to join South City Bulls in New South Wales.

It is a huge step into the unknown for the winger but he felt his hand was forced by the “ridiculous” deal he was offered to stay at Odsal.

Ainscough took his family to Newquay for the weekend to unwind after finally making up his mind to go.

He said: “I’ve been stressing about this so much that I haven’t been sleeping for two weeks. One night I didn’t get to bed until 6.45 the next morning because I couldn’t switch off.

“It’s a massive decision to make but I just couldn’t stay at Bradford. I wanted to but once I’d added everything up, I’d have been scraping by.

“I sat down with the missus to go through the finances and once we’d paid all the bills there was only enough left for food, nothing more.

“I was still going to take their offer right at the end but it just didn’t add up.

“I’m gutted to go but that’s just how it is. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my life.”

Ainscough hopes his relocation to the remote outskirts of Canberra can recharge his career. His hopes of finding another Super League club were dashed, he claims, by Bradford’s delay in offering him new terms.

But he believes his old club are on the brink of bouncing back with the weight of public support behind them.

Ainscough added: “There was such a special feeling around the place last season with the way the fans were on our side. They really helped us through some really difficult times.

“I’ve not seen anything like it before and it was something I’ll never forget. I can see Bradford taking off again and it’s just a shame that I won’t be part of it.

“But I’m only 22 and if I do well in Australia, I can still come back and play Super League again.”