Bradley decides on Bradford

Rugby League

Bradford Bulls have signed the ex-Castleford player Graeme Bradley from the Australian club, St George.

The strong-running 31-year-old centre is teaming up again with his former St George boss Brian Smith, who took the coaching reins at Bradford a week ago.

Bradley, who will arrive at Odsal in December to take up a two-year contract, began his first-grade career with Penrith Panthers and represented the President's XIII against Great Britain in 1988, scoring a try in his side's 24-16 win.

He made 33 appearances for Castleford in the 1991-92 season and played in their Challenge Cup final defeat by Wigan at Wembley.

"He has been St George's player of the year for the last two seasons and it looks like he might get it for this year as well," a Bradford official, Peter Deakin, said yesterday.

"Graeme is a big game player and, although he's not the youngest in the world, he is a proven player in the top league in the world. He started as a back-rower but will be coming to us as a centre which gives an indication as to his utility value.

"He hasn't missed a game in three seasons at St George and is going to have a few months off before he joins us."

Meanwhile, Super League officials in Australia are claiming that several South African rugby union players are poised to follow the former Springbok centre Pieter Muller and sign for league teams in Australia.

Muller signed a two-year contract with the Penrith Panthers on Wednesday, and a Super League spokesman, Michael O'Connor, has revealed that a number of other teams are seeking to sign players from South Africa.

Heinrich Fuls, who toured Australia with Muller as a member of the 1993 Springbok squad, is also reported to have been negotiating with Australian teams.