Hull KR sign Bradford Bulls youngster AJ Wallace for 2024 Super League season

13 May 2023 , 17:00

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Bradford Bulls' AJ Wallace will join Hull KR in 2024 (Tom Pearson/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock) (Image: Tom Pearson/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

Hull KR have raided the Championship again to sign exciting Bradford Bulls second-row AJ Wallace.

The Robins have enjoyed great success picking up talent from the second tier in recent seasons. Elliot Minchella, Matty Storton, Ethan Ryan and Rowan Milnes (all Bradford) plus Frankie Halton (Featherstone) have all made big impacts. And now the Super League high-fliers have beaten off plenty of top-flight interest to recruit explosive Jamaica international Wallace on a two-year deal from 2024.

The former Leeds Rhinos junior is still only 20 but made a huge impression in his first season at Odsal last year. That led to him featuring with Jamaica against New Zealand, Lebanon and Ireland in the World Cup. Rovers boss Willie Peters, whose side’s six-game winning run was halted by Friday’s narrow 21-14 loss at leaders Warrington, said: “We are pleased AJ will be joining us.

"He's a powerful back-rower with good footwork and will provide a point of difference within our pack next season. He's a good defender and has proven himself in a highly-competitive Championship competition. Next year will be the first time AJ has been part of a full-time environment, so we are looking forward to seeing him develop with us over the next two seasons.”

Wallace said he is looking forward to “testing” himself at the highest level. He added: “It’s exciting to see what’s going on at Hull KR and I got that from my conversation with Willie and how he talks about the club. I can't wait to get started."

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Jamaica's AJ Wallace runs in against Ireland in last year's 2021 Rugby League World Cup (Michael Steele/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

And he already knows in-form Corey Hall, the young centre who recently switched from Wakefield Trinity. Wallace explained: "Me and Corey played together at Leeds’ Academy and kept in touch. When I got linked with the move (to Hull KR), we had a joke over the rumours and car sharing to training. We could play on the same edge too, with me playing in the second-row and Corey playing at centre. It's a really talented squad at KR and I’m looking forward to playing with them.

"I’ve enjoyed my time at Bradford and I have a lot to thank them for. They’ve been massive in helping me get to this stage of my career. I’ll keep working hard for the rest of the year at Bradford and hopefully go out on a high with them before linking up with Hull KR next season."

David Craven