BULLS are in talks with Ethan Ryan to keep him at Odsal and head off Super League interest.

Ryan’s current deal is up at the end of the season – and from today, clubs are allowed to start speaking to out-of-contract players.

Castleford are thought to be keen on the 22-year-old, who scored a hat-trick in the space of 11 minutes against Rochdale at the weekend.

Ryan happy with position switch

Other top-flight sides are also lining up to make a move for the hot prospect. But the Bulls are determined to keep him tied down to the club where he has made his name.

Coach John Kear confirmed that discussions are ongoing to extend his present contract and believes staying put would be the best move for Ryan.

“If I was his parents, or his agent, I would advise him to stay here,” said Kear.

“He’s a front-liner here and at the age he is, you need to be playing first-team rugby regularly.

“Lots of those who have gone from Championship to Super League end up being used as bit-part players. They end up on dual-registration somewhere.

“That’s no good for him and his development as a rugby league player.

“I know what we’re talking about with regard to the figures and I think they are fair.

“So, the best advice I would give him would be to stay – but I’m obviously biased.”

Kear cited the example of James Bentley, who left the Bulls after the 2017 season to join St Helens. But he has hardly played in the Super League and recently returned to Odsal on a dual-registration with Leigh.

Kear added: “James has been more of a Leigh player than a St Helens player. Do you want that, or do you want to be stable?

“Ethan loves this club and if you’re out there week in, week out, you’re just going to get better.

“We’ve seen that with him with his positional change, with Matty Storton as well. If you’re out there playing, you learn, you get reviewed and developed.

“I just feel it would be the best for him as a rugby league player, as a person and, obviously, selfishly from me, for the club.

“He’s got time on his side. He’s a baby in rugby league terms like Rowan Milnes, Matty Storton and Thomas Doyle.

“We’ve got to put an arm around them and help them develop as good as they possibly can. I think the best place to do that is here.”

Ryan was League One’s top scorer last season on the wing but has recently made a successful switch to full back.

It is no surprise there is interest in him but Kear feels he will improve his game at the Bulls rather than making the jump to Super League now.

He said: “Just have a look and see what’s what. But you’ve also got to look at all the clubs and see who plays that position.

“There’s Zak Hardaker at Wigan or (Peter) Mata'utia at Castleford. You’ve got to think ‘I know what sort of money they are on, so they’re not going to leave them out for me.’

“The only way you’re going to get in is through an injury. That isn’t the way I would want to be as a young man developing as a professional player.”

Meanwhile, Bulls announced yesterday that over 2,500 tickets have been sold so far for the Challenge Cup derby at home to Leeds on May 11.