If Gareth Ellis isn't a Bull by the New Year, don't expect to see him in a Bulls shirt at all in Super League X.

The club are in negotiations with Ellis and Wakefield but a deal now appears increasingly unlikely. Either way, matters will come to a head shortly.

"It will be settled soon," said coach Brian Noble, who yesterday returned from a ten-day holiday in Dubai.

"The reality is that when we get to January we will know what we are going into next season with," he said.

Media speculation predicting the trade of young stars Stuart Reardon and Jamie Langley as part of a deal to land the Wakefield skipper had proved unsettling, said Noble, with the former policeman admitting to doing a spot of fire-fighting since his return.

"There is an element of that but most of the information you treat with the contempt it deserves and you tell the players that.

"We don't deal with speculation, we deal in fact. And the fact is that our squad is as complete as it is going to be at the moment.

"This happens every year. There is always speculation surrounding our players."

l Former Bull Toa Kohe-Love will make his comeback appearance for Warrington Wolves in their Boxing Day friendly against Widnes.

Kohe-Love made just three appearances for the Bulls before rupturing his ACL ligament against Wakefield in round two last season.

STEVE DEANE