(Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
GUY Armitage has endured a nightmare few weeks in his recovery from injury, meaning he is no closer to finding a new club after being released by Bulls.
Armitage was told he was not being kept on in July, then tore his hamstring soon after during a defeat at Hull KR.
That marked his final game as a Bradford player, but now he is at the point where he is not even allowed to exercise, an athlete’s worst nightmare.
Discussing his recovery, Armitage told the T&A this week: “It's been pretty complicated, not as straightforward as I’d hoped for.
“The first five weeks went very well and I was pretty much on track but from that point, I ended up getting an infection in the scar and I had an abscess removed three weeks ago now.
“I only realised afterwards the healing process of the operation.
“It’s going to heal from the inside out, which will take a few weeks, so I have to keep that dry, which means I can't exercise and I can't do rehab.
“Every week that I'm not really doing anything, it's just adding on to my original recovery time.”
Armitage has been open on social media about this being a mentally taxing time for him, but he has been showing off his creative side, with poetry and drawings.
That feels particularly important while he is unable to get out and exercise, with Armitage telling us: “Those other outlets have been helping me.
“This is the first time I've probably not been allowed to exercise at all, because usually if it's lower limb, you can do upper body and vice versa.
“Exercise was my way of regulating my system, just relaxing and a way to find some peace every day.
“Using those other outlets has been really important.
“It’s been quite tough in a way to take note of things that usually I might brush under the carpet or ignore, but instead I’m kind of sitting with what I'm actually feeling at the moment.”
And while many of Bulls’ other released players, like Riley Dean and Sam Hallas, have found new clubs for 2027, Armitage is having to play an agonising waiting game.
The 34-year-old said: “Whenever I've spoken to doctors, they told me that every injury's different and they all heal at different speeds, which is their way of saying they're not sure when exactly I'll be back.
“In terms of speaking to clubs, it's probably not that useful having those conversations, because when they ask when I’m back (I’m not sure).
"I was meant to be back in full training on December 1, but I might be looking at the end of January, which really isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things.
“It’s about healing this injury first and the aim will definitely be to get myself back up and running and in fighting form.
“Let’s see where I am at that point and if there are any clubs that feel like they could be the right fit for me, then it’s just keeping that option open.”
Guy Armitage has plenty of time to contemplate what is next, but finding a new club for 2027 is not a top priority currently. (Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)
On whether he has a Super League stay in mind, or a move to the Championship or abroad, Armitage said: “My daughter has just started at primary school, so we're quite settled where we are.
“You always want to play at the highest level you can, so I’m just keeping an eye out at the moment.”
It was two years ago this month that Armitage moved from Toulouse to join Bulls.
Reflecting on his time at Odsal, the outside back said: “I absolutely loved it.
“From the day it got announced that I was signing, all the messages of support and the excitement I felt from the fans has been incredible.
“It did not disappoint at all and it’s so good to play in front of those fans.
“I played a lot more games in that Championship year before we got back to Super League.
“That was the conversation I had with Nobby (Brian Noble) and Jason (Hirst) when we first met.
“They wanted to get the club back to where it belonged, which is Super League, and that's where the club is now.
“Just to represent the club in Super League and like you said, the last time you and I spoke was after that Leeds game at Headingley.
“That was a fixture I definitely wanted to be involved in and I'm grateful I got to be.
“I absolutely loved my time at Bradford and the fans are absolutely incredible, so that's been a good feeling.”