Cats hooker Howarth joins the Bulls

BRADFORD Bulls have signed Wakefield Trinity Wildcats hooker Stuart Howarth on a month’s loan.

The former Hull FC rake, 26, joins the Championship club due to Academy graduate hooker Joe Lumb suffering a knee injury.

Howarth, who came through the Wigan Warriors Academy, has played over 100 times in the Super League including spells at Salford and St Helens.

He trained with Bradford Bulls yesterday and is set to debut against Halifax at Odsal on Sunday.

“I can’t wait to get going now at this massive club,” said Howarth, who has scored three tries in 14 games for Trinity this term but currently finds himself behind Scott Moore and Michael Sio in the pecking order for the No9 role.

“Hopefully, I’ll be in the team on Sunday and I can help the team towards another two points. I am a play-making number nine; I am going to play a lot with the ball and create things and (coach) Rohan (Smith) has given me a free reign in the middle.

“I’m looking forward to getting out onto the pitch.”

“It’s a good opportunity to strengthen our squad,” said Bradford coach Rohan Smith, who has also brought in St Helens half-back Lewis Charnock and Warrington forward Joe Philbin on short-term loan deals.

“Joe Lumb has had a bit of bad news with a knee injury, which will set him back a few weeks, so we needed to bring in some depth at dummy-half.”