It was hard to believe they had actually been away from action for more than three months.

The way the Bulls effortlessly eased back into killer mode during their first serious run out ahead of the new campaign showed two things.

Firstly, they have worked and prepared extremely hard during the off-season and,

secondly, the Super League champions are still so very hungry.

Brian Noble's men had this game sewn up by half-time when they were 22-0 to the good and Huddersfield had already run out of ideas in how to break them down.

For many of the Bulls side it was their first game time since the Grand Final win in October or the international contests which finished the following month.

There should have been missed tackles, spilt ball, poor completion rates, horrible fatigue and plenty of sloppy football given it was the first meaningful friendly - if that isn't an oxymoron - of 2006 and they were easing their way back into the cut and thrust of match action.

But, to the delight of Noble and his coaching staff, the Bulls produced a clinical display that bodes well for the World Club Challenge now just 11 days away.

New signings Marcus Bai and Chris McKenna looked like they had been playing for Bradford for the last two seasons, not arch-rivals Leeds, the way they immediately slotted in.

Shontayne Hape continued where he left off with the Kiwis and their Tri-Nations success, grabbing two well-taken tries.

Ian Henderson was as busy and tough as ever at hooker, while the ever versatile Paul Johnson enjoyed another positional switch, roaming around at 13 to good effect in attack and defence.

And Lesley Vainikolo, Paul Deacon, Stanley Gene and Terry Newton were all missing, which made the result all the more pleasing.

The Bulls showed their intentions from the off, Giants powerhouse prop Eorl Crabtree having to stumble off with a busted nose

following a thunderous three-man tackle led by Ben Harris inside the third minute.

That set the tone and there was no let-up. The visitors tackled as if it was the Wests Tigers bearing down on them. People were obviously keen to lay down a marker.

Likewise, Huddersfield's new signing Robbie Paul quickly got in on the action against his old mates, giving Dave Halley a bit of a facial as the young winger returned a kick from his own line.

It was strange for the watching Bulls fans to see their hero wearing the stripes of another team after more than a decade at Odsal. Paul looked sharp and provided some of the home team's best moments but he's going to have his work cut out playing behind their pack this year.

An even odder sight was that of 6ft 6in Karl Pryce wearing the seven jersey for Bulls. Surely you can't have a 17-stone giant like that playing at scrum half?

Iestyn Harris, skippering the side for the first time since being named captain, handed them the platform for their first try with a perfectly-placed 40/20 kick.

Soon after, Henderson was zipping over from dummy half as the Giants defence concentrated on the looming presence of Stuart Fielden, and the Bulls were off the mark.

Huddersfield winger Michael De Vere had a try disallowed at the other end, Chris Nero's pass rightly being ruled forward in the corner, and that was one of the few opportunities they were allowed as the Bulls muscled up.

Johnson got through a ton of work in the middle and Henderson was also leading from the front as the visitors showed some

excellent solidity in the defensive line. They could have been forgiven for being off the pace but their line speed was surprisingly fast and well organised.

Stand-off Chris Thorman tried his best to create something for Huddersfield but his team-mates couldn't make the most of his promptings or beat down the wall of tacklers in front of them.

Even when the Giants had three sets on the trot, having forced two drop-outs, the Bulls remained rock solid and their

discipline was equally impressive, not conceding a penalty until the 28th minute.

By then they had built up a

16-0 advantage.

Giants failed to deal with a Harris bomb, spilling under pressure from Jamie Langley, and Mick Withers picked up the pieces before finding Bai with a visionary 20-metre pass. The Papua New Guinea ace showed his strength to finish off well in the corner for a debut try.

Then Hape got on the scoresheet

following a slick blindside move from inside their own half. Quick hands from Pryce and Fielden gave Brad Meyers the opportunity to show his deftness, the big second row slipping Halley a pass to race clear and Hape was on hand in support.

The Bulls then absorbed a relentless bout of pressure from their opponents but were up to the task before striking a killer blow just before the break.

As the hooter sounded, Harris launched another towering kick that fell directly above the Giants' line. Meyers challenged the defence and blatantly knocked-on in the process but Brett Ferres touched down regardless and it paid off as, after consultation with his touch judge, referee Ian Smith awarded the try.

Harris added his third conversion to rub salt into the wounds.

Noble utilised his bench, allowing the likes of Joe Vagana and Stuart Fielden plenty of rest, and the second half never really fired.

Paul's delicate grubber allowed Nero to dive over but that was cancelled out almost immediately when Hape forced his way in after good service from Pryce.

Fittingly, Paul made the Giants' only real break when he stepped his way through the Bulls' line with one of his trademark darts. He chipped ahead as Withers came in for the tackle and typically the Bulls cleared the

danger as Ferres got back to pounce on the loose ball before De Vere.

The final moments came to life when Matt Cook and Giants replacement Paul March unleashed a flurry of blows on one another, the Bulls youngster having been ragged in the tackle but then getting the upper hand in the resultant scrap.

He didn't get the penalty though and from that decision Huddersfield got their second try, Thorman's kick embarrassingly going though Pryce's legs for Albert Torrens to collect.

Thorman converted but it was the Bulls who departed from the Galpharm happiest.

Their attitude, work-rate and fitness was first class and with the attack able to sharpen up against Hull KR on Friday the message is loud and clear - bring on Wests Tigers. Same venue, same result please.