The 'world champion' tag that sits around the Bulls' neck is still weighing heavily, says coach Brian Noble.

Sunday's battling 35-28 victory over a Salford side that conceded 82 points at Hull earlier in the season was yet another example of the Bulls struggling to subdue one of the lesser sides in Super League, but Noble believes a large part of the problem lies with opposing teams lifting themselves to play the champions.

"We said at the start of the year that we wouldn't have an easy game and we've been proven right," said Noble.

"When you are the world champions and Super League champions you are up there to be knocked off, so everybody bars-up to play you. I've watched some teams who have played us take on other teams and I don't recognise them. When you watch them play us you think: 'Christ, these blokes are world champions elect'.

"But we are coming to terms with that and the second half of the season will be less surprising for us."

While they might be exciting for the fans, Noble admits the weekly nail-biters are taking their toll.

"It's not good for the ticker or for us people sitting in the stand going 'Oh my God'. It does make it exciting but I was always confident we would come away with the game at Salford, but they kept finding reasons to stick in with us."

And Noble insists his side are slowly progressing towards the sort of form that will required to successfully defend the title.

"We did some really good things and there were big improvements, plus little improvements that people don't see. When we put it all together I am confident it will give us plenty of benefits down the track."

STEVE DEANE