ADAM O'Brien has revealed he was left “heartbroken” at being axed for Sunday's crunch clash at Featherstone.

The homegrown hooker was omitted from the 17 who lost 20-0 against Rovers as Bulls missed out on a top-four finish.

Head coach Rohan Smith informed O’Brien last Thursday that he would not be playing in the club’s biggest game of the season.

Smith instead opted to start Danny Addy at hooker and Wakefield loanee Stuart Howarth on the bench.

O’Brien swept the board in Bradford’s player of the season awards last term and earlier this year he was handed a new deal which keeps him at Odsal until the end of 2019.

He said: “It has been a long, tough season and a real rollercoaster.

“We didn't think it would all come down to the last game, but it did, and to miss out on selection was gutting and heartbreaking for me.

“It was the decision the coach made and I've got to get on with it.

“It's tough to understand but if he is putting Danny Addy and Stuart Howarth ahead of me, they are bigger players physically.

“As a player you can do as much as you can in training and performance-wise.

“But at the end of the day the coach picks the team and I can't argue with or go against that.

“He's the coach and he makes the decisions, so I've just got to accept that and move forward.

“I can't sulk or throw my dummy out because it's my job at the end of the day.

“You do have ups and downs but I'm here for the next three years and I'm looking forward to it.”

Smith and his players were back at their Tong training base yesterday and seeking answers from the club's hierarchy about the ramifications of failing to make the top four and whether the Bulls will remain as a full-time operation next year.

Chairman Marc Green and managing director Steve Ferres were both unavailable for comment when contacted by the Telegraph & Argus.

Several Bulls players were reduced to tears at the end of Sunday’s defeat and O’Brien compared the mood to the aftermath of last year’s loss to Wakefield.

O’Brien said: “It felt like the Million Pound Game all over again.

“There were lads in tears at the end and I got upset as well, even though I wasn't playing.

“It's such a tight-knit bunch of lads and it's hard to say 'just move on' because it is going to be in the back of our heads for a long time.

“In the first half, we were probably defending for 30 minutes and that takes it out of your tank.

“When we got in decent field position, our execution wasn't good enough.

“Featherstone got decent field position, scored a few tries and they were the better team on the day.”

The fixtures for the Championship Shield are announced tomorrow and O’Brien said: “It's a massive heartbreak for the team and the fans, who have been there for us all year.

“We’ve just got to move forward positively now and win the Championship Shield.”