Delighted rookie Ritchie Hawkyard has bagged himself the last seat on Bulls' flight to Lanzarote.

The pacy Academy stand-off earned the late call-up following his eye-catching display against Dewsbury.

Boss Steve McNamara told part-timer Hawkyard immediately after Sunday's friendly that he had got the nod for their week of warm-weather training.

However, before accepting the surprise invite, the plasterer had to frantically okay it with his own gaffer to secure time off work.

But, after a whirlwind few days, Hawkyard got his pass and flew out with the squad this morning for his dream shot.

The 20-year-old player hadn't even originally been in the squad at Dewsbury due to injury concerns after recent operations on both his shoulders.

But he was given the all-clear and impressed McNamara hugely with his vibrant display.

"Ritchie Hawkyard has had the potential to do what he did against Dewsbury for a long time but injury has held him back," said the Bulls coach.

"I thought he was just great. He had been in doubt right up until the game and for him to then perform like that was really brave.

"He is quick, as tough as they come, and has got something our other halves haven't in terms of that zip, speed off the mark and acceleration.

"He's an off-the-cuff player, someone good in the broken field and who takes people on rather than your ball-playing type.

"We had one spot available for Lanzarote and Ritchie deserves to go on his performance and because half-back is an area we really need to look at still."

McNamara reckons Hawkyard won't be the only one to benefit from training full-time with the first-team squad over the next week.

"I think the team will gain as well," explained the coach.

"As much as it's good to have someone like him in our offensive stuff, it's also good for us to practice defensively against a half with that sort of pace. It'll be like preparing to take on a Rob Burrow.

"With Paul Deacon sidelined as well, it's important to take someone like Ritchie and I'm really glad to have him on the plane. What's happened is a really good story.

"He's been in the right place at the right time and that's the sort of thing I want to encourage. I won't be scared to do something out of the ordinary if it's what needs to be done and it just shows there are opportunities for anybody."

McNamara has taken a 25-man squad on the trip, prop Tony Tonks missing out and Hawkyard taking his place.

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