Hornets establish dual-reg with Bradford
ROCHDALE Hornets have entered into a new dual-registration agreement with Betfred Championship side Bradford Bulls ahead of the 2024 league season.
The arrangement, which was introduced to the sport in 2013, will see all Bradford Bulls’ players registered with the Hornets, making them eligible to play and train for either side.
It means that Gary Thornton will have the luxury of including up to four of Eamon O’carroll’s players in each of his matchday squads, if required.
Having competed highly in the Championship for a number of years, the Bulls have produced their fair share of on-field brilliance over the years and now Hornets have the three-time world champions on board for the year ahead.
Chairman Andy Mazey is excited to have negotiated such access to the Bulls’ playing group.
On the dual-registration agreement, he said: “We are pleased to enter into this relationship with Bradford Bulls. Gary and Eamon have built a good relationship and we have ran against them a couple of times in pre-season, which has been very useful for both clubs.
“It’s a partnership which provides potential options and a greater depth to Gary’s selection processes, and it also may provide opportunities for valuable game time for our own players as Bradford run reserves.”
Meanwhile, Hornets outside back Lameck Juma says it was a special feeling making his debut for the club away at Batley Bulldogs in the Betfred Challenge Cup recently.
Juma joined the club last month, having previously spent the entirety of his career in the capital playing for London Skolars and London Broncos.
He made his first Hornets start in the battling 30-14 defeat at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium but says there was cause to be optimistic for the season ahead, both personally and collectively as a group.
On his debut, the tough-running 33-yearold said: “It was nice to get back out there playing, I really enjoyed it.
“The first half was really good. The boys dug in and stuck at it. [The result] slipped away a little bit, but it was a good game.
“It was good to have those supporters there too, pushing us on. Hearing their voices encourages you to do more. They travelled to be there, so we needed to give that back to them.
“I was just unfortunate that I missed out on a nice debut try.
“Hopefully they’ll start coming when the season starts. It was good to play with the boys, get the ball and do my bit.
“They made it easy for me because everyone knew what they were doing.”
There is not long left to wait before Juma makes his first Betfred League 1 appearance for the Hornets, with the season set to begin on Sunday 17 March with a trip to Midlands Hurricanes.