FROM Mullumbimby Giants to Bradford Bulls, rugby league can be a small world.

Jy Hitchcox’s arrival at Odsal on loan from Castleford Tigers sees him reunited with Dane Chisholm – a team-mate from way back when playing local league in New South Wales.

Hitchcox, who can play at full back, centre or wing, goes straight into the Bulls squad to face Coventry at Odsal tomorrow. Fellow recruit James Laithwaite is also set to feature.

But the presence of the 28-year-old Hitchcox rekindles an association with Chisholm that extends to when both of them were first starting out in grade rugby.

“It’s strange how it works out in the long run,” said Hitchcox, who played for the Tigers in last season’s Grand Final loss to Leeds.

“We grew up together and have spent a fair chunk of our lives together through footy. Now we find ourselves here again.

“As a kid growing up, every time I flicked the TV channel it would be either Leeds or Bradford on there. That’s where they were at such a pinnacle in the sport.

“Now I’m over here with one of my best mates and I want to help out all I can.

“I’ve obviously been looking for some game-time which I’m not getting at Cas at the moment and they were happy for me to come here. So, it came about pretty quickly.”

Castleford will not allow Hitchcox to be involved in the Challenge Cup at Warrington next Saturday.

John Kear is therefore likely to give him plenty of minutes against the Bears ahead of two solid weeks of training for the trip to fellow League One pace-setters Doncaster.

Hitchcox added: “I’ve heard a lot about him and he’s dubbed as the nice guy of rugby league. I’ve spoken to him briefly and I’m excited to be here.

“I’ve played at Odsal a couple of times against them with Featherstone. They get a good crowd and I’m excited to be on the right end of that this time.

“It’s massive to have that support and good to see they still get a pretty good turn-out to games.”

Hitchcox, like Laithwaite, has signed for a month but Kear is hopeful that both loan deals can be extended to cover the full season. The Bulls have already brought in forward Callum Bustin from Cas for the year.

“I spoke to Callum about how the training works,” said Hitchcox. “He’s obviously a young fella coming up through Cas and has got a good future ahead of him.

“If I can lend a hand to anyone, I will. I’m here to do a job helping Bradford with where they want to go which is obviously promotion and hopefully Super League in years to come.

“I was lucky enough to feature in the Grand Final last season, although it didn’t go the way we wanted.

“But I’ve got a bit of experience and hopefully I can bring that to the table here at Bradford.”