Gareth Raynor has heard all the jibes and he is ready to send a response to the doubters.

After nine months on the sidelines – including seven behind bars – the Bulls winger knows the critics will be out in force for the new Super League season.

Former Great Britain international Raynor will turn 33 less than a fortnight after his side’s Millennium Magic opener against Leeds but insists he is far from past it.

He said: “I’ve always looked after my body so although people might think I’m getting on a bit for a winger, I want to prove it doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s how much you want to do it.

“It’s okay your body being fit but your mind has to be fit as well. If you don’t want to do it, you’re losing half of the battle. But I’m probably as determined now as when I was 21 and still trying to break into the first team.

“I thrive on the challenge and it’s a big challenge for me to come back and say ‘I’m here’.”

A late signing for Crusaders ahead of last season, Raynor was limited to just seven appearances for the Welsh club before receiving a 15-month jail sentence in May for his part in an internet printer cartridge scam.

But the former Leeds and Hull star only served seven months and played a full part in the Bulls’ pre-season training thanks to a day-release arrangement. As a result, his fitness levels have soared.

Raynor said: “It was a bad time last year. I didn’t have a pre-season and I was in one week and then I was playing the first game against Leeds.

“It was hard with the court case hanging over my head but the chance to play Super League was a chance to forget about everything and do what I love doing.

“I was only training part-time over there as well, going over in the week to do a team run and a bit of weights and that was it. I probably wasn’t going back over until I played.

“So I’m fitter now than I was then and can’t wait to get going.”

One of 11 new signings to arrival at Odsal since September, the sheer amount of change has eased Raynor’s transition.

Coach Mick Potter’s recruitment policy means he is not the only player out to prove a point, with the likes of Chev Walker, Shaun Ainscough and Patrick Ah Van all motivated by past adversity.

Raynor said: “There’s loads of new players so it’s not just me who’s having to get used to everything. It probably makes it a little bit easier to settle in.

“There’s a few here to prove a point – and what a club to do it at. It’s a big club and the facilities here are second to none, probably the best I’ve seen in rugby league in this country.”