Bradford Bulls coach Brian Noble is trying to pour oil on troubled waters after the fuss that has been kicked up over the club's takeover of union club Wakefield.

"It is just great that people are co-operating at last after years of animosity," said the former Great Britain rugby league international.

In fact, Noble admitted: "I probably shouldn't say this, but when I was suspended from league as a young man, I used to go and play union!

"And I have never felt any animosity towards me as a league player."

However he added: "People should not see this (the takeover) as a short-term project.

"They should see it as a long-term thing, but cross-pollination will take a long time to achieve.

"And down the line I am sure there are a lot of union players who would want to give league a go, and we will have the facility to do that."

Noble continued: "Taking over Wakefield Rugby Union Club is very interesting, and it gives our young players another avenue and means we don't have to ship them out.

"Union is very technically different, but it gives us the chance to play them at a very high standard of rugby.

"Union players are not going to be instant successes at rugby league, but it gives us another opportunity for us to keep control of our people."

But he emphasised: "But first and foremost we are a rugby league club.

"That is where we get our momentum from and that is what I am employed specifically to do.

"I cannot see any union players from Wakefield getting into our squad in the near future because we have a very, very strong squad."

As for the chances of the two rugby codes eventually merging, Noble said: "I agree with Chris Caisley that rugby won't become one code.

"The games are technically very different, but at amateur level there will always be rugby league and rugby union.

"The generic rugby code won't be decided by the mere mortals. It will be decided by the higher powers if you like."

As for Noble's award as Super League Coach of the Year from the League Express magazine, he said: "It is only a reflection of the team.

"I am a fortunate man to coach such a talented group of people, and hopefully I can replicate that award this year.

"I do implement certain things, and it is the fact that they take them on board which is really pleasing.

"And I want us to play as expansively as we did last year. We have got the talent to do that, and we will be looking to do that."