STEVE Crossley has admitted his emotional send-off in last weekend's win over Oldham reduced him to tears.

The popular Bulls prop has played his last game for the club after undergoing ankle and shoulder surgery this week.

Crossley went under the knife after helping his hometown club to a thumping 82-0 win over Scott Naylor's side.

He kicked a second-half conversion and was given a guard of honour by his team-mates at the end of the game, bringing an end to his second spell at Bradford.

Crossley, who is expected to join the newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack next season, said: “I was holding back the tears at the end as I realised that it was all over.

“With the great reception that the crowd gave me before and after the game, and the boys giving me the guard of honour to the tunnel, I was welling up.

“I had not booted a goal since my amateur days at Clayton when I used to be the kicker.

“I’ve been happy with my second stint here because my first spell came when I was young and I wasn’t getting the game-time I needed.

“I went off to other clubs to get that first-team experience under my belt and I was really glad to get the call to come back.

“The only disappointments I’ve had since returning have been the Million Pound Game defeat to Wakefield last season and where we have finished this year.

“Performance-wise, I could have probably given a bit more but I have been playing fairly busted this year with my shoulder and ankle.

“That’s obviously why I’ve had them fixed up this year, which is why Sunday was my last game, but I’ve absolutely loved it here and am glad to have left on better terms than I did last time.”

Crossley was not offered a new deal and admitted: “I would have spent the rest of my career here but there was no contract there for me.

“However, Rohan Smith has been great and let me keeping playing so that I could fulfil my boyhood dream of playing for the Bulls again.”