Newton happy with Bulls
Great Britain hooker Terry Newton pledged his loyalty to Bradford Bulls after rejecting the chance of a return to hometown club Wigan Warriors.
Warriors coach Brian Noble made an audacious bid to lure the 29-year-old Newton back to the JJB Stadium, offering former St Helens hooker Mickey Higham in exchange, but received short shrift from both club and player.
Newton contacted the Bradford Telegraph & Argus newspaper from the club’s training camp in Lanzarote to set the record straight after first seeking reassurances from Bulls coach Steve McNamara and chairman Peter Hood.
“I’ve spoken with Steve McNamara about it, told him my thoughts and we both agreed it’s right for me here,” he said.
“I’ve got two years left on my contract and, as long as Bradford want me, I’m never going to go to them and say I want out. So, unless Macca changes his mind or Peter Hood does, I’m a Bradford Bull.
“Macca’s reassured me he wants me at the club and now I’m just looking forward to getting the season started.”
McNamara said: “We’ve had an approach from Wigan and turned it down out of hand.
“We’re not interested in Terry Newton leaving our club and certainly not interested in taking Mickey Higham as his replacement, which is what Wigan were offering.
“Tez is an absolutely vital component in our whole organisation, a tremendously gifted footballer, and so it’s simply not an option.”
Newton, who was dropped by Great Britain after playing in the first Gillette Fusion Test against New Zealand last October, could face his hometown team on Sunday when Bradford take on Wigan in the Paul Deacon testimonial match at the Grattan Stadium, Odsal.
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