VILA Halafihi admits he “would love” to stay at the Bulls beyond this season as he seeks to gain more regular game-time at Odsal.

The former Leeds Rhinos academy player has featured just twice this season, coming off the bench at Dewsbury and Doncaster, following his close-season move from NRL outfit Penrith Panthers.

Although he has regularly been in the Bulls’ 19-man squads, head coach Jimmy Lowes has used first-choice hooker Adam O’Brien in virtually every minute of the season so far.

That left Halafihi and homegrown hooker Nathan Conroy, who has spent the past month on loan at Oxford, on the outside looking in.

But Halafihi, who spent last season playing for Penrith’s Under-20s side, is adamant he can play an important role if called upon more regularly.

The 21-year-old, who joined Bradford on a one-year deal, said: “I’m just concentrating on playing well and getting some minutes under my belt.

“If I get my foot in the door and I get playing more regularly at Bradford then I can hopefully set myself up to get a new deal.

“I would love to stay here because I have supported the club since I was a kid and I love the place.

“I’ve had a taste at Dewsbury and Doncaster and I’ve loved it.

“But it’s not really up to me, it’s up to the people upstairs, so we will let them decide.”

Halafihi admitted O’Brien would be difficult to dislodge but he is open to the prospect of heading out on loan for regular game-time.

He added: “Obviously Adam is first-choice and rightly so because he’s been one of our star players this season.

“Adam has played a lot of minutes and will have a lot of miles in his legs.

“We’re getting on for the halfway stage of the season now, so if I can grab some minutes here and there it would give him a rest.

“Likewise, if Jimmy does want me to go to Oxford to keep fit and get some game-time then I will do that.

“But I would prefer to stay in and around the squad here, especially as I’m right on the verge of it, so I want to keep it up.

“Nathan and I are quite unlucky in the fact that Jimmy doesn’t like carrying a hooker on the bench.

“But it’s also good in the sense that if he plays you, he’s going to need to have faith in you.

“I’m going to have to wait for my time but the thing is with Adam, he doesn’t get injured – he’s immortal.

“If he does up a knock and Jimmy puts me on the pitch then I’ll do my best for the team.”

Halafihi, a boyhood Bulls fan, made his debut for the club in the Easter Monday win at Dewsbury in front of his dad and former Hull KR, Sheffield and London forward Nick Halafihi.

The hooker said: “To finally get a shot and pull that jersey on was a massive honour for me.

“I was bursting with pride and nothing could wipe the smile off my face – in fact I didn’t sleep that night!

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always supported Bradford. I’ve got shirts at home with Lesley Vainikolo’s name on.

“The main opinion on my game comes from Jimmy but you look to your parents as well, especially after what my dad did in the game.

“He knows a lot about rugby league and I do tend to look to him for support. He tells me straight how I have done.

“I’ve felt I’ve done alright in my two appearances but if anything I struggled with the game fitness. If I can improve that with more minutes then hopefully I can show why I came here.

“It’s all about fitness and if I went down to Oxford then I would be able to get game-time.

“Jimmy has had me doing extras after training to get me as fit as I can, so if the opportunity does arise then I’m fit and I’m ready.”