NEW Bulls recruit Dave Petersen says he is excited by the challenge of winning promotion back to Super League the hard way.

The former Hull KR man, one of three new faces signed from Australian Intrust Super Cup side Mackay Cutters, is enjoying his first week of training as a Bradford player.

And while there has been plenty of opposition to the major restructuring of the domestic game, Petersen is not fazed by the task that lies ahead.

Jimmy Lowes’ men must finish in the top four of the Championship in 2015 if they are to battle it out with the bottom four Super League sides in the Super Eight play-offs.

The top four teams from that Super Eight mini-league will earn a place in the top flight for 2016 and Petersen said: “I think it’s a really good structure to develop the game.

“I remember promotion and relegation before and it always seemed to be the same two teams coming up and down. They were not strong enough for Super League but yet did very well in the Championship.

“I believe the new structure will stop that happening and test a lot more teams in both divisions.

“I’m really looking forward to it and it’s about us challenging ourselves to get back into Super League.

“We can only see how the new structure develops as the season goes on but as a player, it would be awesome to test ourselves against Super League opposition in the Super Eight before entering Super League the following season.”

The versatile loose forward has a fine pedigree, having progressed through the ranks at Hull KR and captaining the under-18s side before stepping up to the under-20s and then making four first-team appearances, scoring one try.

The 22-year-old moved to Australia in 2012 to join the Cutters but was keen to return home and make his mark with Bradford in the Championship.

Petersen, a former Hull Wyke amateur, played with Karl Davison and Chris Ulugia at the Cutters and with Chev Walker at Hull KR.

He said: “I got home on the 23rd of October and started training with the boys last Saturday.

“Obviously I’d had a couple of weeks off but it’s good to get back into training now.

“It does help when you know a few lads and, while I’m commuting from Hull at the moment, my fiancé Becky and I are going to move into a place over here shortly.

“Becky is looking into a few jobs. She was a midwife previously and did some nursery work in Australia, so she’s looking at that line of work again.

“We’re engaged to be married in October 2016, so we have a bit of time to save up!”

Petersen worked in landscaping, labouring and in a steel factory for the mines during his two-year stint in Australia when he played his rugby on a part-time basis.

He admitted: “Being a full-time professional rugby player is a better lifestyle as it’s not as rushed and I get a bit more time to myself.

“That’s definitely a bonus and with getting back to see my family and into training, it doesn’t feel like I’ve been away from England to be fair.

“When I was at Hull KR, we just trained at the stadium so it’s great to have our own training ground at Tong.

“The coaching staff here are very good and hopefully we will go well and get back in Super League.

“I really enjoyed my time at Hull KR. I was just breaking into the team and earning my spot, I guess, and I did have a contract to stay.But the opportunity to play in Australia got me and I took it.

“As a 20-year-old I had nothing to lose and, as a 22-year-old now back in England, I’m at Bradford Bulls and trying to get back into Super League.

“I’ve definitely grown up as a person and become more experienced in and around people in the game too.

“We trained with a lot of North Queensland Cowboys players and I had to earn my spot because the system over there is pretty ruthless.

“Cowboys players can come back and knock you out of the team. It has definitely helped me to develop as a person and a player.

“Going to Australia was a chance I couldn’t turn down and didn’t want to turn down. It worked out well and that’s all I could have hoped for.

“It has led to me getting another opportunity over here and I’ve got that thanks to Jimmy and Bradford.”

Meanwhile, the Bulls have revealed they will host Huddersfield in a pre-season friendly at Odsal on Sunday, January 18.