Bradford Bulls have confirmed that six players will leave the club at the end of the season, a move that brings clear changes at Odsal as the team heads towards the closing stages of the campaign.
Experienced names among the exits
The departures include Chris Atkin, the 33-year-old utility player who arrived from Castleford Tigers in March on a short-term deal, and two overseas signings: Australian hooker Mitch Souter and Papua New Guinea international Dan Russell. Also named on the release list were Guy Armitage, Joe Keyes and Sam Hallas. The club additionally confirmed that injured loanee Ed Chamberlain has returned to his parent club, Hull FC, to continue his rehabilitation.
The Bulls became the first top-flight club this term to publish an end-of-year release list, doing so with seven rounds of the regular Super League season still to play. That decision appears intended to give the affected players time to find new clubs rather than waiting until the transfer window deadline on 31 August.
- Chris Atkin – 33, joined from Castleford Tigers in March on a deal until the end of the season; over 300 career appearances.
- Mitch Souter – Australian hooker, at Bradford since 2024; fewer appearances this year after promotion to the top tier (11 games in 2026).
- Dan Russell – Papua New Guinea international, joined from Warrington Wolves; leaves after 12 months at Odsal.
- Guy Armitage – departure previously announced on social media; included on the official release list.
- Joe Keyes – 12-time Ireland international; hasn’t played since February; this will be his third spell at Bradford and pushes his career appearances beyond 200.
- Sam Hallas – utility player with 10 appearances this term and 166 of his 198 career games at Bradford across four spells.
What this means for the Bulls and supporters
The list reads like a reminder of the churn that comes with promotion to the top flight. A few of the names are familiar faces at Odsal – Hallas and Keyes in particular have had multiple stints at the club – while others are overseas recruits who have not quite found the same minutes at Super League level this season.
For supporters, the news is mixed. There is a practical logic to the club’s timing in publishing the list: by being upfront and open, the players are given a head start to secure new deals. The decision also reflects the difficult balancing act for a club which has recently moved up a division and must now assess which personnel fit the demands of Super League football.
From a squad-building perspective, departures of this number leave room for recruitment but also pose short-term questions over depth, experience and cover across key positions. That will be a matter for head coach Kurt Haggerty and the recruitment team to resolve in the weeks ahead.
"We wanted to be open and give them the opportunity to find something, instead of waiting until the deadline," the club said in their communications.
That sentiment, whether spoken by committee or coach, captures the blunt pragmatism of the move. Players such as Atkin, with more than 300 career appearances, and Keyes, who has passed 200 career games, bring experience that will be missed. Equally, the release of overseas players who have battled for game time suggests a judgement about what level the squad needs to compete in the months to come.
| Player | Note |
|---|---|
| Chris Atkin | Short-term signing from Castleford; 300+ career appearances |
| Mitch Souter | Australian hooker; regular in Championship but 11 games in 2026 |
| Dan Russell | Papua New Guinea international; 12 months at Odsal |
| Guy Armitage | Departure previously announced on social media |
| Joe Keyes | Third spell at Bradford; hasn’t played since February; 200+ career appearances |
| Sam Hallas | 10 appearances this term; 166 of 198 career games at Bradford |
The coming weeks will show whether the Bulls seek like-for-like replacements or take the opportunity to reshape the squad with younger or differently styled players. For now, supporters can ponder the familiar sight of turnover at Odsal – a small mercy being that the club has at least given the departing players a fair head start to make their next move.
