Bradford’s Purtell hospitalised after Magic Weekend drama

The Bulls announced this morning that Australian Purtell, 27, was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary having initially been admitted to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

A club statement read: “Purtell began to feel unwell following the game and the Bulls bus stopped twice for the doctor to initiate medical proceedings including the fitting of a drip.”

Bulls football manager Stuart Duffy, who was on the team bus, added: “Adrian’s condition was giving cause for concern and the club doctor, Donald Young, advised that he should be taken to hospital immediately.

“The bus went to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where Adrian was detained and he was later transferred to the Leeds General Infirmary where he spent the night.

“Our thoughts are with Adrian at this time.”

The Bulls went down 37-22 to their West Yorkshire rivals in a draining encounter played in blistering heat at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

The result left Bradford in ninth place in the Stobart Super League.

Purtell started out at the Canberra Raiders in the NRL in 2006 but missed a large chunk of the following season due to deep vein thrombosis.

He moved on to the Penrith Panthers in 2010 and subsequently joined the Bulls at the start of this season.