Sam Wood has a confession to make.

“When I first started playing rugby, I supported Leeds Rhinos,” revealed the 19-year-old Bulls rookie with a smile.

“I then came here on a scholarship and pretty much fell in love with the place. Everything became Bradford Bulls from that point on.”

Wood, awarded a two-year full-time professional deal after impressing in the Academy and under-20s side last season, was handed his first-team debut in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup fourth-round tie at Rochdale on Sunday.

It was comfortably the biggest moment of his fledgling career and he marked it with a try inside the third minute.

“It was a dream come true,” added the Halifax lad, who has captained the Bulls’ under-19s side this season.

“I woke up on Sunday morning and couldn’t believe that this was going to be the day I would be playing first-team rugby.

“I absolutely loved it. It’s something I’d dreamt about as a kid. Quite a lot of my family were at the game and I ran over at the end to see them.”

Although normally a centre, Wood played on the right wing at Spotland and was on hand to claim one of the easiest tries he will ever score.

Adrian Purtell unselfishly ushered the teenager over the line to mark the perfect introduction to life in the first team.

Wood, who made several strong carries and certainly did not look out of place, said: “Purts could have gone over himself but he looked after me a bit there and it was a bit of a walk-in.

“I played 80 minutes against Rochdale and I felt it afterwards because I had played for the Academy in our win over Castleford last Thursday.”

Bulls coach Francis Cummins has monitored Wood’s performances for Paul Medley’s side this season and felt he was ready for his first taste of senior action.

Wood said: “It shows that Franny is watching and every week he is setting me new challenges. By the looks of it, I’m doing it, so he gave me a shot at Rochdale.

“I loved it. Yes, I am a centre but I’d be happy anywhere in the first team. I’ll do my best wherever he wants to play me. If he wants me on the wing then I’ll play on the wing.”

Wood, Curtis Naughton and Oliver Roberts were promoted into the first-team squad before this season and would appear to have bright futures in the game.

Wood, having got his first taste of the big time, now has his sights firmly fixed on making his Super League debut.

He reasoned: “I think it would be wrong of me not to want to play Super League.

“Franny put me in there against Rochdale to give Elliot Kear a rest and hopefully I showed that I can play with these boys.

“I had some good people around me but I had work to do as well. Purts was playing inside me and is a different class of player.

“He made a name for himself in the NRL and I remember watching him when I was younger.

“It was great to play with him and he showed me exactly what to do. Hopefully I can push on from here now.”