RUGBY LEAGUE
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A NEW chapter in the playing career of Bathurst’s Harry Siejka has begun as the half signed a two-year contract on Monday with the Bradford Bulls.
After playing just six Super League games this season with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the former Bathurst Panthers junior should get more chances with the Bulls.
With the Bulls relegated this season to the second-tier championship, the club hopes that Siejka’s inclusion in the halves will be a key ingredient to getting them immediately back into Super League.
It has been a wild ride in Siejka’s senior career so far as he moved to England after spending time at three different NRL clubs – the Penrith Panthers, New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons.
Bulls coach James Lowes holds a high opinion of the Bathurst talent, who he believes didn’t get a chance to showcase his true potential with Wakefield due to injury.
“I like what I have seen of Harry,” he told Sky Sports.
“He came over on the back of a pretty bad injury and has not yet managed to fulfil his potential, but he is an excellent scrum-half and we are delighted to have him on board.
“I liken him to [former English international] Bobbie Goulding. He can break the line, has a great kicking game and is the kind of guy who is not afraid of getting stuck in.”
Lowes believes that Siejka’s style should see him mix in well with his fellow playmakers.
“I feel sure Harry has some great years ahead of him and am hoping he will form a solid partnership with Lee Gaskell in the halves,” he said.
“They should compliment each other pretty well. Both differ a fair bit in style, but we have together a cracking mix here, with young Adam Brook right behind the pair of them.”
Siejka took off to the UK earlier this year after spending the final stages of the 2012 season playing for the Dragons’ feeder side in NSW Cup, the Cutters.
His season for the Wildcats never got going as, after a long time sorting out visa issues, he was reduced to limited minutes off the bench and with limited success.