Bradford Bulls: Kearney wouldn’t half fancy filling in at pivot (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls: Brett Kearney wouldn’t half fancy filling in at pivot

7:40am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in Bulls By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Full back Brett Kearney may have to switch positions during the course of the season, with the Bulls squad not as big as in previous seasons

Brett Kearney says he would have no qualms about being pushed into the halves if required this season.

The Bulls full back enjoyed an outstanding 2012 campaign, weighing in with 15 tries and eight assists as well as proving an assured presence in defence.

But the potential absence of scrum half Luke Gale at the start of the season has raised the prospect of Kearney playing alongside Jarrod Sammut at half back.

Gale is recovering from ankle surgery and battling to be fit for the season-opener against Wakefield on February 3, yet Kearney has no concerns about switching position.

That could leave Jamie Foster, Michael Platt and Elliot Kear in line to temporarily fill the full back role should Kearney be deployed as one of coach Francis Cummins’ two pivots.

Kearney said: “Playing in the halves is a possibility and it doesn’t worry me at all.

“I enjoy playing there and I’ve done it plenty of times before.

“It’s not my strongest position but I’ll be working hard with Franny during the off-season to make sure that, if called upon to play that role, I’ll be quite capable of doing it and doing it well for the team.

“Our squad isn’t as deep as it was last year, and I’ll probably have to take a bit more on board, which I’m looking forward to doing.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how the team pans out at the start of the season and how Franny sets us up.

“Sometimes through the season I’ll have to do that.

“We’d be very lucky to get through the year without a few injuries.

“Before we know it the season will be here and it will be game on. It’s coming round that quick.”

Kearney is also looking forward to help nurture rookie full back Curtis Naughton as he bids to make the grade in Super League.

Naughton has been promoted into the first-team squad along with fellow teenagers Sam Wood and Oliver Roberts.

Kearney added: “I’ve heard some fantastic things about Curtis and his game.

“As we get more into the technical side of things, I look forward to working with him and seeing if I can help him at all.

“To have a good young full back coming through the ranks, it will keep me nice and sharp.

“I want to improve every year. When I stop wanting to improve, that’s when it’s time to hang up the boots.”