Brett Kearney admits that losing has become an unwanted habit for the Bulls and agrees they must stop the rot quickly if they are to make the play-offs.

Sunday’s 30-18 defeat at St Helens marked a sixth loss in seven Super League outings for Francis Cummins’ side and saw them fall out of the top eight for the first time this year.

The second-half fightback from the Bulls was to be applauded but they had already given themselves too much to do and Kearney accepts the time for action has come.

Cummins’ men are next in action on Sunday week, when Widnes visit the Provident Stadium – and Kearney sees it as an opportunity to reignite their campaign.

The Aussie full back said: “Losing can be a habit and at the moment we’ve caught that losing habit. We need to turn that around and we need to do it quickly.

“We’ve definitely got the belief as a team unit but we need to put it into action to really feel strong again.

“We’ve got a couple of home games coming up against Widnes and Warrington and it’s a chance to start putting things right in front of our home crowd.”

Kearney accepts the Bulls are giving themselves too much to do in the first half of matches, forcing them to rally hard after the break.

He said: “Each week we are giving ourselves a mountain to climb. If we keep doing that we’re going to keep getting these same results.

“We keep putting in top efforts and we’ve got young guys coming in putting their hands up but we’re just doing silly things at the wrong times. Teams like St Helens are too good to make those mistakes against.

“We’re a strong team unit and there is certainly no shortage of desire and wanting to win – but we’re not going the right way about things.

“I think the energy is maybe a little but misplaced at times and, unless we start playing smarter, we’re going to keep falling backwards.”

England’s mid-season international Origin match against the Exiles means the Bulls have a fortnight’s break from the rigours of Super League.

Kearney said: “It’s definitely come at the right time. Not only do we get a chance to refresh the body, we get a chance to refresh mentally.

“It’s a long season and I think this is the perfect time for us to have a break.”

Kearney said he backed Cummins’ decision to place Elliott Whitehead on indefinite leave after he handed in a transfer request.

“I’ve said it before many times, Elliott is a fantastic player but it’s a decision that the coaching staff have made in the best interests of the team,” he said.

“Part of us being a strong team unit is the fact that we’re willing to back Franny’s judgement.

“But I thought Oli Roberts was very impressive on his debut against Saints. I take my hat off to him because he didn’t look out of place at all. He’s only going to improve from the experience.”

Cummins could be boosted by the return of Adrian Purtell, Jarrod Sammut, Manase Manuokafoa, Chev Walker and Jacob Fairbank for the Widnes clash a week on Sunday.