Stunned Bulls must stump up a transfer fee for Michael Platt.

An RFL tribunal convened to decide who owns the player's registration yesterday found in favour of his former club Castleford Tigers, so he remains on their playing roster and under contract.

Bulls believed the full back became a free agent once Tigers had been relegated from Super League last season and duly announced his capture in October.

But Castleford maintained there was no clause in Platt's deal to allow him to leave and want around £10,000 for the player they felt was tied-up at The Jungle until the end of 2007.

Bradford refused and Tigers consequently ordered the former Salford flier to attend the first day of their pre-season training.

Platt, 22, was then put on gardening leave' until the tribunal - chaired by an independent advisor - and has been in full training for the last four weeks with his new Odsal team-mates.

Both he and the Bulls felt the RFL would uphold the case but the player was left shocked yesterday when the decision went against him, ruling that the Tigers contract stood.

Bulls chairman Peter Hood said: "We weren't at the tribunal as it was a matter between Michael Platt and Castleford but everybody was surprised by its decision.

"We've been attempting to get a copy of it to get to the bottom of it all as technically he is now still a Castleford player."

However, there is no chance of rocked Bulls pulling out of the deal.

Last night Hood reiterated: "Of course we are still committed to the player and want him at Bradford.

"But we need to understand more clearly what was said at this tribunal before we make any more comment."