Fresh-faced and keen, Shontayne Hape ran out at the Jungle for his first taste of rugby league with the Bradford Bulls.

The former junior Kiwi, just weeks off the plane from Auckland and desperate to resume his rugby career after nearly a year out with injury, donned the No 4 shirt for his debut.

He showed flashes of brilliance even in that early clash, and his relationship with his wingman, big Lesley Vainikolo, showed promise even then.

Hape now makes his return six months later on top of his game, flying high, delighted to be here, sure he made the right move and with an early-season goal almost attained.

After just a few weeks of Bulls action he revealed that his aim was to get Vainikolo to the top of the scoring charts.

If his winger could score often, it would reflect well on his contribution.

The Volcano is now the leading scorer for the Bulls, although Hape is refusing to take much of the credit.

"Ah, no, he hasn't done it because of me," said the down to earth and amiable 21-year-old.

"I might have done a bit, but Les is top scorer because Les is such a great player.

"It is like having a prop outside you. He is 17 stone, he can run as fast as any winger and in a one-on-one, you would bet on him to score every time.

"It makes your job a lot easier when you know that an off-load to a winger like him is going to get you tries a lot of the time."

Asked if Vainikolo is the best winger he has played with, Hape enthusiastically replied in the positive.

"Ah, yeah, of course," he gushed.

"Les is the tops - he has everything."

Hape is also full of praise for Jamie Langley, the youngster who has joined in a few left-side rampages recently.

Although all is going well for Hape, he admits things went a bit off the boil in recent weeks as the side's form slumped.

"I don't think I lost form," he continued.

"We just hardly ever got the ball. I think in the defeats to Saints and Wigan I touched the ball maybe five times.

"But when the Origin was on, I went off to Cyprus for a few days to forget about everything and I have come back renewed.

"We had a chat with Nobby (Brian Noble) and told him we needed more ball, and now everything is going well again.

"I just hope we can beat Castleford like we did in my first game."