Orford has played for Manly and Melbourne in the NRL

Bradford will be without scrum-half Matt Orford for the rest of the season.

The 32-year-old Aussie needs surgery on the shoulder injury that he suffered in the Bulls' 19-0 Murrayfield defeat by Brian Noble's Crusaders in May.

Orford, who has played just once since, said: "It's difficult because I've never really had an injury that has ruled me out midway through a season.

"I wanted to try and play on but unfortunately it's out of my control. It's something that needs to be fixed."

He added: "It's hard because you feel as if you're letting the boys down but I've just got to be patient and get back to fitness as soon as I can."

Orford is in his first season in Super League having signed a three-year deal with the Bulls following his move from NRL side Manly.

It needs fixing up for the long-term benefit of the Bulls and for himself Bulls coach Steve McNamara

After picking up the injury at Murrayfield, Orford has played just one game - the 26-22 Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat by Warrington 17 days ago.

"It's a huge disappointment for him," said Bulls coach Steve McNamara. "He's a proud man and he wanted to see the season out.

"We knew leading into the Warrington game that it wasn't good news for him but to put his hand up and do what he did was very courageous.

"If we'd managed to sneak through we'd probably have tried to patch him up, wrap him in cotton wool and not play him until the next stage but the reality is that his shoulder is shot.

"It needs fixing up for the long-term benefit of the Bulls and for himself."

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