A first-half blitz sparked by Jamie Langley and Leon Pryce and some quality finishing by Stuart Reardon saw the Bulls thrash Castleford Tigers 44-18 at Odsal yesterday.

Reardon scored four tries, including a first-half hat-trick, while Langley grabbed two himself and had a major hand in several more.

There's a scene in the classic New Zealand movie Once Were Warriors where, after a particularly vicious pub fight, the lead character, Jake Heke, says of his massive but vanquished victim: "Too much weights, not enough speed work".

After he put on over ten kilograms during the off-season and made an explosive beginning to 2004 - only to be shown up for pace by St Helens prop Nick Fozzard in the Bulls' Challenge Cup exit - the same question mark hung over Langley. Had his increased size cost him a vital half-yard of pace?

But early-season shoulder problems have forced Langley to lay off the weights and he has shed a few kilos. And yesterday he showed plenty of pace to go with his undoubted power.

"When you put a lot of weight on in such a short time it is hard to adjust to it," said Langley.

"I've not been able to do as many weights as I would have liked but it might have been a blessing in disguise. I've shed a few pounds and I seem to be a bit more mobile again and I seem to have got my fitness back."

Langley has featured in all ten games this season but yesterday was only his fourth start - a situation he is hoping to rectify.

"Now that I've got a starting spot I've got to try my best every game to try and secure it.

"Nobby has shown this year that if you play well he will pick you. That's the way it should be, and that's how it has been so far."

In further good news for the club, coach Brian Noble said utility back Karl Pratt should be available for the trip to Widnes in a fortnight's time.