KR sign five from Bradford

Hull KR announced the signing of five Bradford Bulls players.

Hull Kingston Rovers have announced five new signings from Bradford Bulls, after the club paid a substantial fee for their services.

Half-backs Joe Keyes and Rowan Milnes, back-rowers Elliot Minchella and Matthew Storton and prop-forward Anesu Mudoti have all signed three-year deals with Rovers from the 2020 campaign.

The arrival of the quintet significantly boosts the depth of the Robins squad and the options at head coach Tony Smith’s disposal.

Keyes, 24, began his Super League career with London Broncos in 2014, before joining Bradford in late 2016 and went on to make 58 appearances for the Bulls, scoring 24 tries and kicking 166 goals.

Milnes, 20, made his Bradford debut in 2018 and went on to make 14 appearances, scoring four tries, and played a big role in the Bulls’ shock Coral Challenge Cup win over Leeds Rhinos last term.

Former Rhinos academy product Minchella, 23, made his top-flight debut for Leeds in 2013 before spending time with London Broncos, Sheffield Eagles and eventually Bradford from 2018, scoring 69 career tries in 119 appearances.

Storton, 20, debuted for the Bulls in 2017 but 2019 was his breakout year, scoring four tries in 23 outings which helped him win the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

Finally, highly-rated Mudoti, 18, has starred for the Bulls’ under-19s line-up and won the BullsTrust under-16s Player of the Year award in 2017.

Commenting on the deal, Tony Smith told hullkr.co.uk: “We are delighted to have these five players on board, and it was important that the deal benefited both clubs.

“To add young, ambitious and talented players is what we are striving to achieve and each of these signings are exactly that.

“The additions give us depth and choice in positions, which in turn gives us competition for places. To have people in form and playing well is an important part of our strategy for next year.

“Regardless of their experience, if they are doing their job, they are in consideration for the first team. They all see themselves as Super League players of the future and some have ambitions to go even further than that.

“They fit our recruitment remit and we are delighted to have each and every one of them on board at Hull KR.??

CEO Mike Smith added: “I would like to place my thanks on record to a number of parties for their co-operation in getting these significant, multiple transfers over the line.

“I would like to thank Bradford Bulls and the RFL for their assistance upon the deal’s completion.

“I would like to thank the agents involved in the process, Craig Harrison at ShowMeTheMoney and TMGroup’s Graeme Taylor, for their handling of the agreements.

“A substantial fee has been paid by the club to Bradford Bulls for the services of these players. We are delighted to have all five players on board and look forward to seeing them wearing Hull KR colours in the near future.??

As part of the agreement, Milnes will be loaned back to the Bulls for the entire 2020 campaign but will then be part of the Rovers squad on a full-time basis from 2021. In due course, another Rovers player will also head in Bradford’s direction on a season-long loan.

“We are happy to assist in Bradford’s preparations for the 2020 campaign, and the decision was made to loan Rowan Milnes back to the Bulls for next year to continue his development, whilst also loaning an existing Robins player,?? Smith explained.

“The considerable fee involved, including loaning Milnes back to Bradford as well as one of our own players, shows that we are committed into helping Bradford remain sustainable in their ongoing rebuilding process.

“We all want to see a successful Bradford team and give them every chance of achieving their goals in 2020.??