BOYHOOD Bulls fan Gareth Widdop has set his sights on a Test series win over New Zealand as he continues his remarkable journey from the Odsal terraces.

The St George Illawarra Dragons and England stand-off grew up in Halifax as a fanatical Bradford supporter and still holds the club close to his heart.

Widdop emigrated to Australia with his family as a 16-year-old and progressed through Melbourne Storm's youth ranks before helping them to an NRL Grand Final win in 2012.

The skilful, goal-kicking 26-year-old, whose Yorkshire accent is now tinged with an Aussie twang, then joined the Sydney-based Dragons in a lucrative move after the 2013 World Cup.

Widdop, whose father Gary played for Keighley Cougars, said: "My mum and dad had always travelled but they believed that moving to Australia was a better opportunity for me and my younger sister.

"We moved to Melbourne and the Storm's under-20s side was starting the following year, so things took off from there.

"Melbourne was an outstanding learning curve and playing alongside Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith – three of the greatest players ever – taught me a lot.

"By the time I turned 23, I had been there a while and it was time to move on and take on a more dominant role within a team. That's why I moved to the Dragons – but I enjoyed my time at Melbourne."

Widdop also looks back on his formative years in West Yorkshire with fondness. He was a regular at Odsal as the Bulls swept all before them, marching to five successive Grand Finals and winning three of them, between 2001 and 2005.

Widdop recalled: "I grew up as a Bulls fan and used to go to all the finals. One of my best mates at school had season tickets, so I went all the time.

"Being from Halifax, my grandad and the rest of the family weren't happy I supported the Bulls, but they were such a great side with the likes of Robbie and Henry Paul, Lesley Vainikolo and Jamie Peacock.

"Robbie was my favourite player and to see how far they have fallen is very disappointing as a Bulls fan.

"I suppose it's the same with Halifax – one minute they were playing Super League and they have never got back there since. Both my teams have now gone from the top flight.

"I was on a scholarship back in the day at Halifax but they fell into some financial trouble and I was moving to Australia anyway. In the year I left, I was actually playing rugby union for Old Brodleians."

Widdop is now desperate to avenge England's 2013 World Cup semi-final defeat against New Zealand in the forthcoming three-match Test series.

England face the Kiwis at the KC Stadium tomorrow in the opening Test and Widdop said: "That semi-final defeat two years ago was heartbreaking.

"It was of the most disappointing moments of my career – but we've got a great opportunity ahead of us now to win some silverware."

Widdop, wife Carley and their two young children have no intention of returning to Yorkshire any time soon.

He has been linked with a move to Leeds Rhinos and said: "I always said I would love to play in the Super League one day. When that may be, I don't know, because I've always been really happy in Australia.

"I live on the south coast in Wollongong, which is a little country town, and I'm about 200 yards from the beach. It's a little bit different to Halifax!"