Bradford Bulls are joining up with the army next week as they continue their build up for the new season.

The entire first team squad are going to Catterick for three days of intense fitness work.

And one man who is delighted to be making the trip on Wednesday is Australian centre Danny Peacock.

He has astounded everybody at Odsal by taking part in full training just five months after having surgery to reconstruct his left knee.

Peacock, who only returned to England last week after a holiday Down Under, has been doing all the hard running and full contact work during his first week back.

He has also been lifting weights with his left leg as he builds up his fitness.

And instead of being out of the game for a year as he feared when he suffered the injury against London Broncos in May, he is optimistic that he will be ready for the start of the new campaign on March 7 when Bulls are at home to Sheffield Eagles.

Peacock said: "I am absolutely delighted with the way things have been going and so is everybody else.

"I was pleasantly surprised to be able to take part in all the running and full contact work."

But he warned: "There is still some work to be done.

"Fingers crossed I will be ready for the start of the new season and I didn't think I would be able to say that.

"After three months in plaster there is a lot of muscle wastage in my leg which I am slowly having to get rid of.

"It's great to be back working with the lads and preparing for the new season."

Coach Matthew Elliott, who was impressed when he saw Peacock working out during his stay in Australia, is delighted with the centre's first week back.

"It has been great to see him working so well but if anybody was going to surprise us in this way it was going to be Danny.

"He is truly amazing when it comes to recovering from bad injuries. It is a tonic to everybody seeing him getting down to hard work in training. I hope that he continues to make good progress because he would dearly love to be available for the start of the season."

Paul Anderson and Warren Jowitt, who had similar injuries to Peacock, are also training fully again and preparing for the Catterick assault course this week.

The trip to the army camp is intended to build up fitness levels and help bond the squad.

The Bulls new Aussie signings Michael Withers and Nick Zisti have settled in well and the trip will give them more time to get to know their new team-mates.

Their arrivals has helped create a high interest in season-tickets for Super League IV.

Fans have until December 31 to buy them at the discounted rate which gives them four games free of charge.

Media manager Stuart Duffy said: "We are delighted with the level of business we are generating from season ticket sales.

"We are well on course to beat last season's sales figure and that is very encouraging for the club."

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