TOM Olbison admits he faced an uncertain future before finally penning a new one-year contract with the Bulls.

The homegrown forward has committed to Rohan Smith's squad for the 2017 campaign – but for several weeks it appeared that he may leave Odsal.

Olbison assessed his options and considered the prospect of getting a job and playing his rugby elsewhere on a part-time basis.

But in the end he signed the deal the Bulls offered him and is delighted to extend his stay at a club he joined when 15 years old.

"I'd be naive and daft not to have considered all options because that's just part and parcel of life," said Olbison.

"You've got to make sure you are financially secure and that's all I was trying to do. I've got a mortgage and a house to run, so I can't rely on my partner for that.

"I'd probably say at one point that getting a job was a consideration because I signed here so late. To be honest, though, I didn't really have any other job options because I've only ever been a rugby player.

"I was a mechanic for a short few months and wouldn't have been able to step straight back into something like that. There was nothing I could put my finger on and say 'yes, I can go and do this as a job'.

"There was interest from a couple of part-time teams and it was about weighing up all options before making a decision. You want to get the best deal for yourself and that's the same when you go for any job in life – you've got to help yourself as much as you can.

"It was just about coming to an agreement over certain things and I'm obviously delighted it has worked out with Bradford in the end. I've got another year and hopefully it will lead on to more."

Olbison, by his own admission, struggled to hit top gear for much of the 2016 campaign – but the 25-year-old gradually rediscovered his form in the closing weeks of the campaign and helped the Bulls to lift the Championship Shield, impressing at loose forward in particular.

Head coach Smith said: "I'm delighted that Tom has decided to stay and I thought he finished the season in excellent form. He tackled very strongly and carried the ball well, which resulted in a couple of tries for him as well.

"He's got the club in his heart and sometimes contract negotiations do take time. That's the modern era in the game, so it was a never a question about Tom's passion for the club.

"It's obviously a business these days but I'm really happy to have him on board. He gives us some real strength in defence particularly."