Brett Kearney will attend four weddings in Australia and New Zealand in the next month. Who needs a funeral after the season the Bulls endured in 2011?

Kearney, who turned 28 today, freely admits that another year of failure at Odsal next season would not be tolerated but is confident of a far brighter campaign in 2012.

The former Cronulla Sharks man points to the arrival of a quartet of new recruits and the emergence of a clutch of young players as cause for optimism.

Adrian Purtell, Luke Gale, Keith Lulia and Jarrod Sammut have signed and more acquisitions are certain to follow.

Throw in the burgeoning talent of the likes of John Bateman, Tom Burgess and Adam O’Brien and it is easy to believe that Kearney’s optimism is not misplaced.

For a club which once gorged on silverware, success as a bare minimum in 2012 means making the play-offs – and nothing less will do.

Kearney said: “We had a disappointing 2011 and we all know that. As a squad we didn’t live up to our potential and we can’t afford to have another season like we did last year.

“We want the fans with us. They have been fantastic in the two years that I’ve been here, especially after some of the performances that we’ve put in at times.

“To see them back at Odsal week after week has been great and to have over 10,000 pledges again is brilliant.

“If we can start getting things right together, coupled with the guys that are coming in, then we should do better – and we have to.”

The 2011 campaign was far from a total disaster: The Bulls beat deadly rivals Leeds Rhinos at Headingley for the first time in four years; Huddersfield were stuffed at Odsal in one of the finest displays by a Bradford side in recent seasons; After injuries bit deep, young players stood tall and became men.

Kearney said: “Elliott Whitehead improved a ton again this year. Tom Burgess came in and really put a big stamp on things.

“With another good off-season, I think he will improve massively again. You can see from looking at his brothers that Tom has the potential to be a star player.

“Johnny Bateman got a bit of a go at the end of the season with Adam O’Brien and they really made an impact. That’s not easy to do when you first come into the top grade.

“A lot of the time players need a few games to get used to things and show what they can do. But those two boys looked like they had been doing it for years.

“It’s a great confidence-booster not only for them but for the team-mates around them.

“We showed at times that we can compete with the top teams. The draw with St Helens, when they kicked the goal after the bell, showed what we can do.

“Then there were games against Salford and Wakefield when we didn’t show what sort of team we were.

“A lot of the time we didn’t show how hard we had been working in training. That’s why it’s so disappointing. We were there or thereabouts but only at times and we’ve got to improve as a squad.”

Kearney, meanwhile, will scarcely have chance to draw breath during his off-season break.

The classy Australian explained: “I’ve got four weddings, so it’s pretty hectic actually! It’s not a real holiday, so to speak, more about catching up with friends and family.

“The weddings are roughly in the same sort of area, which makes it easier, but I’ve got to head over to New Zealand for one.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Bradford refreshed and ready for pre-season.”