STEVE Crossley admits he would love to sign a new Bulls deal after declaring: This club means everything to me.

The Bradford-born prop came through the ranks at his home-town club as a youngster before returning to Odsal from Castleford last April.

Amid the stiff competition for places in the front row, Crossley has established himself in the side and impressed during Rohan Smith's first game in charge at Sheffield last Friday.

Crossley is among a large group of Bulls players whose contracts expire at the end of the season but he has told new boss Smith he wants to stay.

"If it was up to me, I would sign a contract for life at this club, but it's not my decision," said the boyhood Bulls fan.

"I definitely want to stay and am looking to put in the performances to persuade Rohan to give me another contract.

"The change of coach didn't really help the out-of-contract players because everyone's future remains up in the air.

"Rohan obviously needs a couple of weeks to assess the out-of-contract players, which is understandable, so I've got to just keep performing.

"If he wants to give me a contract, I'll sign it as soon as possible. I've told him I want to stay and only want to play for Bradford and don't want to talk to any other clubs.

"Being a Bradford lad, this club means pretty much everything to me and I want to help us get back to where we belong – in Super League – and that's our aim."

Crossley has fought off competition from the likes of Epalahame Lauaki, Jonny Walker and Dan Fleming to establish himself in the team this season.

With Adam Sidlow and Paul Clough the recognised starting props, Mitch Clark and Crossley have shaped up as the first-choice bench men with Ben Kavanagh (hamstring) now injured again.

Crossley, set to feature again in tomorrow's Summer Bash showdown against Leigh, said: "I had no pre-season at all because I got injured the week before the Million Pound Game.

"I completely tore my shoulder so I went in for the operation right at the start of pre-season.

"I came back feeling pretty unfit but the more game-time I've had, the better I have felt and the more I have been able to show what I can do.

"There is still more to come, so it should be a good run from me until the end of the season.

"I think we have touching ten front-rowers here at Bradford, so I'm delighted to be in the 17 and just want to stay there now to get this club where we want to be.

"There is a good chemistry in our front row and Cloughy and Ziggy (Sidlow) know each other well.

"Mitch is the aggressor in the team and I like to get the boys rolling forward and keep us strong defensively in the middle. It's working well."