GEORGE Flanagan is preparing for another early start before the Challenge Cup tomorrow.

He got up at the crack of dawn last week because he was so excited about making his Bulls debut.

And the experienced hooker is likely to be up with the lark again for the first of two meetings in a week with his former side.

Flanagan made 69 appearances in three seasons with the south Leeds club, including a try-scoring finale on the opening day of this campaign against Hemel.

But having now returned to his boyhood club, he might well cop it from the fans who used to sing his name.

He said: “I don’t know what the reception will be like but probably pretty hostile.

“But the Hunslet fans were absolutely magnificent with me and I’ve got some really good friends there who I speak with daily.

“Hopefully the fans will be nice to me – and we can get the victory there.

“I was club captain and one of the main things we spoke about when Bradford came down was how big a game it’s going to be.

“Then Bradford came knocking on the door for me.

“Every club in this division are going to look forward to Bradford, just for the revenue sake. These clubs need the backing.”

With the weather putting paid to the London Skolars game, Flanagan had to wait nearly three weeks to finally play for the club who let him go a decade earlier.

No wonder he was pacing the kitchen impatiently first thing – before making up for lost time with two tries in the crushing win at Keighley.

“I woke up 6.30am, had a coffee and tried to go back to sleep,” he said. “But I just couldn’t because the nerves were kicking in.

“As debuts go, I couldn’t have asked for much better.

“From being a 13-year-old kid, I dreamed of pulling on that jersey and to run out and feel the warmth of that reception the players got was unreal.

“I’m a Bradford lad through and through and work for Bradford Council literally two minutes from the Cougars ground. I got a bit of stick before the game but I did my talking on the field.

“I keep saying I’m just living the dream here but that’s what it is to work with John again and at my hometown club.”

Flanagan admits he has gone full circle since his Odsal exit in 2008 with spells at Batley, where he played under Kear, Featherstone and then Hunslet.

He returns as the senior member of the Bulls hookers’ union featuring the likes of Sam Hallas, Vila Halafihi and Reiss Butterworth.

“I was with the club during the hey day as world club champions,” added the former Dudley Hill amateur. “Training with the likes of Sam Burgess, Tevita Vaikona, Lesley Vainikolo and Stuart Fielden was a good thing as a young kid.

“I was behind some really good hookers. Terry Newton, rest in peace, Ian Henderson and Wayne Godwin all helped me.

“To watch the club going through the hard times was tough for me because I’m a supporter.

“I hope I can play a part in helping my club get back to where they should be.

“It’s a young squad and they give their all. John’s record speaks for itself and everyone loves being around him.”