Giants pounce to land top Bradford Bulls youngster

Oct 8 2008 by Chris Roberts, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Giants have pulled off a major coup by signing England Academy hooker Keal Carlile from Super League rivals Bradford Bulls.

The 18-year-old has signed a three-year deal and joins from Odsal for an undisclosed fee.

A top junior at Featherstone Lions, Carlile shot to prominence during the middle of last season when he came on as a substitute for the Bulls in a Super League clash at St Helens and acquitted himself exceptionally well.

But his crowning glory came in the England Academy’s recent tour to Australia when he was rated, along with Giants centre Michael Lawrence, as one of the stand-out performers for his country.

And he is hoping he will be able to continue that development during his time at the Giants.

“This is a big move for me at this stage of my career, but it’s one I believe is the right one to make,” said the Pontefract-based Carlile.

“I have seen first hand how Michael Lawrence has come on under Huddersfield’s development system. He loves it there.

“And I can’t wait to learn under someone with such a fantastic reputation as (new Giants coach) Nathan Brown. Glenn Morrison – Bradford’s top Australian back-row forward – couldn’t speak highly enough about Nathan.