The Bulls may have been well beaten by Huddersfield at the Magic Weekend but for Adrian Purtell it was a return to where his career almost came to a close.

The former Penrith Panther suffered a traumatic post-game heart attack on the coach ride home after feeling pains in his chest in the aftermath of the defeat to Leeds in sweltering heat at the Etihad Stadium.

“It honestly didn’t go through my mind and it was all about the team and not me,” said Purtell, whose career resumed in March after a ten-month absence from the game.

“It was just a great occasion to play in that sort of arena and I wasn’t too focused on what happened there last year.

“It was about the performance and that certainly wasn’t good enough from last Sunday.

“What we’re all now looking to do is rectify that result tomorrow because it’s another big game for us.

“That’s the good thing about our game – if you play badly one week, then you get the opportunity to redeem yourself the week after.”

Despite missing out on this weekend’s vital encounter at Hull KR with a rib injury, playing the Humbersiders holds fond memories for Purtell.

The Aussie’s first game back in action was against Craig Sandercock’s men, after being given the green light to play just days before the sides met at the Provident Stadium. Since that day, Purtell has not taken a backward step.

He said: “That was a tremendous occasion for me and the team. The crowd were absolutely awesome and really got behind me when I came off the bench, as well as the other boys.

“They gave me a standing ovation when my name was called out, which was so overwhelming, and thankfully that day we got a good win as well.

“The week after Keith (Lulia) was injured, so I got to play in the starting side and played the full 80 against Catalan, which I came through all right, and luckily my match fitness has seemed to have got better and better each week.

“I guess I was a bit of an unknown to all the other teams when I came back and I think that helped me.

“I understandably was a bit timid at first but I’m really happy with the way I’ve worked back and I feel that I’ve slowly been improving game by game, which is something that I’m looking to continue to do.”

Speaking about the Bulls’ play-off hopes and the chances of taking the points at MS3 Craven Park, Purtell added: “Hull KR will certainly be up for the fight after what happened to them last Saturday and, as a group, we’ll need to be up for it.

“I watched that game and Michael Dobson took them round the field really well and that’s something we’ll have to be aware of as a team.

“We have the points on the board though and we certainly don’t want to put that to waste this week and the next because it’ll also be a tough game at St Helens, who are in there fighting with us as well.”