NOBODY knew if Adrian Purtell would ever pull on a Bulls jersey again after he suffered a heart attack in May 2012, least of all the player himself.

The Australian faced an uncertain future as he battled to recover from the physiological and mental impact of that traumatic day.

It was a baking hot afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, where Mick Potter's side had played Leeds in a Magic Weekend encounter.

Purtell had played the full 80 minutes of an energy-sapping 37-22 defeat in the searing heat.

He initially complained of feeling unwell shortly after the game and began to suffer chest pains.

As his condition worsened during the journey back to Bradford, the club's medical staff gave Purtell oxygen and put him on a drip before diverting the team coach to accident and emergency at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

He was transferred to the coronary care unit at Leeds General Infirmary later that evening, where he underwent an immediate primary angioplasty to remove a blockage in his artery.

It was a gruelling road back to full fitness. And then some.

That Purtell was back playing again ten months later but has also recaptured something approaching his best form and earned himself a new contract is testament to his remarkable powers of resilience.

"The amount of interviews I did when it first happened, I was in a bit of the unknown in terms of whether I could play again," said the popular 29-year-old centre.

"Then I came back last March (against Hull KR) and you have doubts such as 'should I be playing again?'

"After the heart attack and at my age, you start to think 'I can't play like that any more'. But after this year I'm confident that I have a lot of rugby left in me and a lot of improvement.

"I felt like I was starting to play my best rugby for a few years. I really was enjoying my footie again and starting to get back to what I know I'm capable of.

"It's disappointing to be part of a squad that's going down and to then pick up an injury at the end of the season.

"But I can take a lot of confidence from this year, knowing that I've still got a lot left in me. I know I can certainly offer more next year compared to this year."

After seeing his life, never mind his career, placed in jeopardy, as well as experiencing not one but two spells in administration, Purtell's time at Bradford has been anything but plain sailing.

He said: "I'd like to think I've become a stronger person for it.

"Everything that has happened off the field has been disappointing, not just for me but for the club and the fans.

"It's been tough for everyone, and we can't dwell on that too much, but the club have been great to me.

"The fans have been really supportive, all the players I've played with great and all three coaches I've played under have backed me the whole way.

"I've loved my time at Bradford and I'm really looking forward to next season and giving something back – and that means getting Bradford back to where they should be."

Jimmy Lowes told the former Canberra and Penrith star that he wanted to keep him within two days of taking over at Odsal.

"When Adrian is on his game, there aren't many better centres in the competition," said the Bulls coach this week.

High praise indeed.

Purtell has already been touted as a potential captain of the Bulls as they bid to return to Super League at the first attempt next year.

Not surprisingly, being part of a group of players who took the club down sits uncomfortably with Purtell.

He explained: "It doesn't sit well with me and the other boys that we went down in this squad with Bradford Bulls.

"Therefore I jumped at the opportunity to help the club get back to where they should be.

"Jimmy has that will to win and I think you've seen a lot of guys playing with that desire in the last few weeks. I find that if your skill level isn't there but your desire is, then you'll be in the game.

"I'm sure the pre-season will be tough going by the way training has been over the last couple of months.

"The goal is to get back into Super League as quickly as possible and if that's at the end of next year, then I would hope to have played a very big part in doing that."