Former Bradford hooker Adam O'Brien joins Huddersfield
Saturday 7 January 2017 13:14, UK
Huddersfield Giants have signed hooker Adam O'Brien on a three-year contract.
O'Brien has joined the exodus of players leaving Bradford Bulls after the club went into liquidation on Tuesday, rendering all the players free agents.
The 23-year-old, who scored 10 tries in 31 appearances for the Championship side last season, is the sixth confirmed departure from Odsal and he follows former team-mate Alex Mellor to the Super League team.
"I'm really happy to have Adam on board," said Giants head coach, Rick Stone
"After losing Kyle Wood, we were hoping to bring another hooker in and Adam is the right fit for us, he gives us some flexibility around the 9, with both Kruise [Leeming] and Ryan [Hinchcliffe] being able to play there and it probably frees up Ryan to play at 13 more, which is his preferred position.
"We now have two young dynamic hookers in Adam and Kruise and that is encouraging for us and the fans and I think they will really enjoy watching their combination. Adam came into training today and I walked away impressed. The squad is starting to take shape now, it has taken a while but we have brought in a lot of good young players and I'm looking forward to seeing what they bring to the team in 2017."
O'Brien added: "I'm really pleased to have signed for the club. I wanted to get back in Super League, I wanted to try with Bradford Bulls but that hasn't happened and with what's gone on at the club in the last few months I just felt like I needed a change for me and my career, for my family and personally it is a good move for me and I'm looking forward to the challenge at Huddersfield.
"I want to say a massive thanks to Bradford, I have been there since I was 15 and brought through the ranks from academy through to first team and I would just like to thank the coaching staff and everyone involved at the Bulls. Especially the fans that have been there since day one supporting me, they have had a massive influence on my career and I hope they will be behind me with what I have decided and now I can't wait to get started at the Giants."
O'Brien has been handed the number 31 squad number ahead of the new 2017 Super League campaign.
