BEN Hellewell grew up in Birkenshaw, progressed through the youth ranks at Odsal and has supported the Bulls for as long as he can remember.

So the 23-year-old centre needs no extra motivation to perform for London Broncos in tomorrow’s visit of his home-town club.

The Scotland international is one of several London men with Bradford links and is relishing the opportunity to face Jimmy Lowes’ side.

Hellewell said: “I’ve played with Danny Addy and Dale Ferguson for Scotland, with Adam O’Brien in the academy at Bradford and with the likes of Ryan Shaw and James Mendeika at Warrington.

“We’re good mates but on Sunday I’m sure we will be looking to knock seven bells out of each other.”

Hellewell, who played his amateur rugby with Dudley Hill and Drighlington, was picked up by Bradford as an 11-year-old.

He came through the scholarship and academy at Bradford before being snapped up by Warrington, who paid a compensation fee for his services, and spent two years there.

“I was part-time the first year and then full-time the second year,” remembered Hellewell.

“I got on with all the lads but they were just a good team and I wasn’t breaking into it.

“Being at Warrington was a very good experience as Tony Smith is well known as one of the best coaches around and training with top players such as Ben Westwood was fantastic.”

Hellewell returned to West Yorkshire after his two years at Warrington and joined Featherstone, where he also spent two seasons.

“In my first year at Featherstone I was full-time as I had a job there in the community,” said Hellewell.

“In my second season, I was part-time and working as an electrician, so I was working from 7am to 4pm and would then travel to training.

“They were long days and I got a phone call from Joey Grima saying London wanted to sign me.

“Andrew Henderson had put my name forward because we played together for Scotland.

“I accepted their offer straight away and I got a two-year deal.”

That meant a return to the full-time ranks and a move to the capital, where he shares a house with Tom Gilmore, Harvey Burnett and fellow Bradford lad Elliot Minchella.

“I’ve fitted in really well and been made to feel really welcome here,” said Hellewell of his close-season switch.

“It’s a real eye-opener living in London but there is plenty to do.”

London have endured a turbulent campaign following Grima’s decision to leave the club just a fortnight into the new season.

But Henderson, aided by the recent appointment of part-time mentor Brian Noble, fashioned the Broncos’ best performance of the season last weekend.

Sheffield were thumped 46-6 at the Summer Bash and Hellewell added: “We hadn’t had a performance like that and it would be nice to back it up against Bradford.

“But we know it’s going to be tough because when we played them at Odsal earlier this year we didn’t score a try.

“It will be hard to break down their defence and they are very structured in attack as well, so they will difficult to stop.

“I played against Bradford in the academy for Warrington but to do it at first-team level is surreal.

“I was sat in the sheds at Odsal in April thinking ‘I’m in the wrong changing rooms here’. It’s weird because I’m a boyhood Bulls fan and idolised the likes of Robbie Hunter-Paul and Lesley Vainikolo.

“This year hasn’t gone to plan but hopefully we can have a good crack at getting into Super League, if not this season then next.

“We showed what we were capable of against Sheffield, so why can’t we do it for the rest of the season?”