AS KARL Davies took his seat at Old Trafford for last weekend's Super League Grand Final, he was gripped by what began to unfold.

Just two minutes into the game, Wigan prop Ben Flower landed two vicious punches on Lance Hohaia – the second as the St Helens playmaker lay out cold on the turf – and was promptly dismissed.

It was as intense and controversial as any of the previous 16 Grand Finals but Davies, who went to the match with new Bulls team-mate Chris Ulugia, loved every minute of it.

"It was pretty overwhelming for myself as there were 70,000 people at Old Trafford and the atmosphere was incredible," said Davies.

"The UK crowd are much louder than back home. Everyone sings and chants to get behind their team and it's an unreal experience.

"It was a tough, gritty game and there was a bit of controversy too. It looks pretty tough over here."

Significantly, however, Davies watched bitter rivals Wigan and Saints slog it out and came away thinking he could have held his own.

So does he feel he could play at Super League level?

"Oh definitely – I'd back myself and I believe I could," said the Australian prop signed from Queensland Cup side Mackay Cutters along with Ulugia and Dave Petersen.

"I'm still only young but if I get the opportunity, then I'd take it with both hands.

"I've got ambitions to play in both NRL and Super League – I want to get to the top and have a crack at either competition.

"I've signed a two-year deal here and to get Bradford back into Super League at the first attempt would be unreal.

"Everyone is on board and wants to achieve the same thing.

"On paper it's a very good side. We trained with the ball for the first time on Tuesday and it looked promising.

"There is good skill and size in the team, so it's looking good."

Standing 6ft 3in and weighing in at around 17st, big things are expected of Davies at Odsal next year.

The amiable Aussie, who spent time in the youth ranks at Melbourne Storm, was a crowd favourite with the Cutters and helped them to the title in 2013.

The 22-year-old, nicknamed 'The Lumberjack', said: "I was at Melbourne Storm for my under-20s and in pre-season of my last year there I got to train in the top squad for a little while.

"Melbourne won the Premiership that season, so it was pretty cool to have a few sessions training with the top side.

"At the end of that season, I won the award as under-20s forward of the year after a pretty good season. At the time though, they had a lot of front-rowers, so I had to go to the Queensland Cup to have a go there."

Davies prospered with the Cutters and when Petersen told him he was heading home to England to join the Bulls, he wanted a slice of the action too.

"I'm good mates with Dave and he gave me the heads up that he was coming over, so he gave me some contacts and I got hold of the Bulls," explained Davies.

"I had a Youtube video of my footage on the internet and sent them the link. The Bulls then rang a couple of people to get an opinion from me, so it went from there.

"It's a different style of footie over here but I think I'll be able to adapt to the playing conditions. It's a good opportunity and I think I'll enjoy it.

"I was only part-time with the Cutters and being full-time professional is every rugby league player's dream. So far it has been awesome."

Davies is now settled in an apartment in Morley with Ulugia and is enjoying life as a full-time pro. Back home in Australia, he worked in a factory and played for the Cutters on a part-time basis.

"I was a machine operator for one of the coal mine production factories over there," said Davies.

"I was operating machines such as overhead cranes and it was a bit repetitive but it paid the bills.

"They were good blokes to work with, and the hours suited my training with the Cutters, but it's 100 per cent better playing full-time. The training is a lot harder but it's all worth it."

Davies is encouraged by the squad that Jimmy Lowes has assembled, particularly the huge forward pack.

He said: "There are some massive boys. Adam Sidlow has played 150 Super League games and we have the likes of him, Samir Tahraoui and Lucas Walshaw, who is a back-rower but another giant.

"There is plenty of depth in that forward pack and Jimmy is straight down the line and big on discipline. You could tell that in our first couple of training sessions – but that's what you want."

And how did Davies earn his nickname?

He revealed: "We played a televised game in the Queensland Cup and Scott Sattler was calling the play.

"I took my first run off the bench and Sattler said 'he looks like a lumberjack!'.

"Every TV game from then on they were calling me 'The Lumberjack'. It just went from there."

If Davies can enjoy anywhere near the kind of career as one of his boyhood heroes, he will not go far wrong.

He said: "Petero Civoniceva was someone I always admired. He's played over 300 games and had a great career. I've actually had chance to meet him too and he's a great bloke."