Bulls star Holmes buzzing as he gets set for remarkable return from cancer

In new loanee Jacob Douglas and the return of powerful forward Dan Okoro, there is some excitement around Bulls’ squad announcement for their home game with Widnes in the Betfred Championship this Sunday.

But one name in particular has caught the eye, that of popular back Tom Holmes.

The former Castleford man was integral in Bulls reaching the play-off semi-finals last year, but was shockingly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the off-season.

But treatment has gone well for the 27-year-old, and head coach Eamon O’Carroll has kept him around the squad all year, regardless of how close he was to returning to fitness.

But he is back now, and could play his first game of 2024 this weekend.

It has been a whirlwind few months for Holmes, who has expressed just how delighted he is to be in with a chance of featuring on Sunday.

He said: “Words can’t really describe how I’m feeling, I am buzzing to be back.

“It’s been a long process now, about seven months, and I’ve been training and doing bits over the last few weeks.

“But I’ve had itchy feet so it will be good to be on the field again with the lads in front of the fans, I’m really excited to be back playing.”

For those worried how Holmes’ body will stand up to the challenge, he insisted: “I feel ready.

“I spoke to Freddy (O’Carroll) and he asked how I felt, that’s how we’ve been going over the last few weeks.

“If I wasn’t ready, I would’ve been honest, but I am definitely ready and very excited.

“I’m not normally nervous before a game but for this one there will be a lot of emotions.

“I didn’t know whether I’d play again or for how long, so to be able to walk out, with it being a home game in front of the fans and my family, there will be a mix of emotions.

“I’ll try not let them get the better of me but I’ll be ready to go.”

Looking beyond this Sunday’s game, Holmes said: “I’ve been in and around training but games are a bit different.

“I just want to be back playing consistent rugby and hopefully I can get back to my best and give the boys a boost after last week’s defeat to York.

“We are excited to put things right after that game.

““I’ve had a lot of time out but I don’t feel behind or anything like that.

“I would love to play as well as last year but I want to be even better.

“I laid the foundations in 2023 and I want to build on those, starting this weekend.”

In a parting message, Holmes said: “I just want to say thank you really.

“The fans have been absolutely great with the amount of messages of support I’ve had, every week I’ve been down here watching they’ve been asking when I’ll be back playing.

“They’ve been really supportive but it’s not just the fans here, it’s fans of rugby league itself and obviously (Bulls CEO) Jason Hirst, Eamon and people high up at the club have been amazing.

“I am going to pay a bit of that back, get on the field and hopefully help the team get some wins.”

As for the remainder of the team news, winger Douglas joined on a two-week loan from Wigan Warriors this morning, while Okoro, like his Warrington team-mate Max Wood, is available for Bulls to use when not needed by his parent club for their own matchday squad.

Ebon Scurr and Jayden Myers are both set to return to the side from injury, but Dan Smith (calf), Chester Butler (hip) and Zac Fulton (concussion) are all absent after picking up injuries in York last weekend.

O'Carroll only had that trio to speak of, in terms of new injuries, after the game at the LNER Community Stadium, but Bulls have now suffered another blow, with John Davies missing out on the Widnes game with an as-yet unknown injury.

Lucas Green meanwhile had been on loan at Bradford from Warrington, but that deal has now ended and he has joined Bulls' fellow Championship side Swinton Lions on a temporary basis.

It will be a tough game for Bradford at Widnes, with the Vikings winning their opening four league games before suffering a narrow defeat at Featherstone Rovers on Sunday.