McNamara: High hopes for promising teenager Crookes
Bradford have handed England academy international Jason Crookes a new three-year contract.
The centre, who is yet to play for thd first team, will remain at the Grattan Odsal Stadium until the end of the 2011 campaign.
Crookes is currently on loan at National League One club Widnes but will head Down Under with the rest of the England academy squad this week.
"We brought Jason into the full-time squad a couple of years ago and physically he developed very well," Bulls coach steve McNamara said.
"This season he has gone out on loan to play against some men and he has done tremendously well.
"By the time he comes back from Australia he'll have really developed to the stage we want him.
"He will finish the season with Widnes but we are delighted he's agreed this new contract with us."

Super League Extra - 19th March
Crusaders 14-6 Catalans - Withers and Thomas
Super League's Supermen - Sculthorpe
Widnes 28-30 Halifax - Branighan
Widnes 28-30 Halifax - Calland
Widnes 28-30 Halifax - Cullen
Looking to the future
The wheel deal
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Engage Super League | |
| Saturday 20th March | |
| 17:45 | Harlequins RL vs Huddersfield |
| Sunday 21st March | |
| 15:30 | Castleford vs Wigan |
| 15:30 | Wakefield vs Salford |
| Friday 26th March | |
| 20:00 | Castleford vs Crusaders |
| 20:00 | Bradford vs Harlequins RL |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Leeds |
| 20:00 | Warrington vs Wakefield |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| 00:00 | Catalans Dragons vs Hull K R |
| 18:00 | Salford vs Hull |
| Sunday 28th March | |
| 15:00 | Huddersfield vs St Helens |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Engage Super League | |
| Friday 19th March | |
| Leeds 10 - 17 Hull K R | |
| Hull 18 - 6 Bradford | |
| St Helens 28 - 18 Warrington | |
| Crusaders RL 14 - 6 Catalans Dragons | |
| Sunday 14th March | |
| Huddersfield 26 - 20 Leeds | |
| Harlequins RL 22 - 26 Salford | |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Warrington 33 - 8 Bradford | |
| Catalans Dragons 16 - 20 Castleford | |
| Friday 12th March | |
| St Helens 37 - 30 Crusaders RL | |
| Wigan 48 - 24 Hull | |
Angela Powers meets Gareth Thomas as he prepares for the biggest challenge of his career.
Luke Dorn is thrilled to see two fellow Aussies lighting up Super League after tough times in England.
Gareth Ellis told Boots 'n' All that he expects more British talent to leave Super League for the NRL.
Shaun Briscoe was among the try-scorers as Hull KR beat Leeds 17-10 to earn their first win at Headingley in 25 years.
Gareth Thomas endured a painful debut in rugby league but Crusaders still managed a 14-6 win over Catalans Dragons.
Warrington's miserable record at Knowsley Road continued as they were beaten 28-18 by St Helens on Friday night.
Hull have held on to their 100 per cent home record after grinding out an 18-6 Super League win against Bradford at the KC Stadium.
Gareth Thomas failed to even reach half time on his Super League debut for Crusaders after suffering concussion against Catalans.