FORMER Bradford Bulls player Ashley Gibson has brought a curtain down on his career after it was revealed that he has been suffering with type one diabetes for the last couple of years.

The winger/centre joined the Bulls towards the back end of their relegation from the Championship in 2017 before playing a key role in their resurgence a year later.

Gibson bagged eight tries in 24 appearances during that promotion from League One via the playoffs and was handed a one-year deal for his efforts.

Unfortunately, he was unable to repeat that cracking form in 2019, making only four appearances before being released.

Although we now know why that huge drop off occurred, after he received his diagnosis that year.

He told LeedsLive: "I lost a load of weight without any reason, my energy levels weren't right, I was really thirsty and constantly needed the toilet.

"I think even the coaches thought I wasn't right, I don't know if they felt I'd fallen out of love with the game. John Kear was the coach at the time and he could notice something wasn't right. But I kept it under wraps as I'm quite a private person.

"I ended up going to see my own doctor and getting some blood tests back. When they came back, my blood sugars were supposed to be between four and nine but they were 28."

A Stanningley talent, Gibson made his Leeds Rhinos debut in 2005 and scored 52 points in his 35 games over a four-year period.

Successful spell at Salford, Castleford and Wakefield came before a move to Odsal where after 30 outings he eventually ended up at Newcastle Thunder to see out the final days of his career.