KRIS Welham recently spent a month holidaying around Australia with his family.

The break allowed him to rest his battle-weary limbs at the end of a draining season and afforded him plenty of thinking time.

He had left his home-town club Hull KR at the end of last season after being unable to agree terms on a new deal.

The 28-year-old centre headed Down Under with offers on the table from Super League clubs, but the challenge of returning a fallen giant to the top flight appealed to him.

He signed a two-year deal with Bradford upon his recent return to the UK and is confident it will prove the right decision.

The Hull KR academy product chose the Bulls after talking to head coach Jimmy Lowes and head of performance and video operations Lance Du'Lac, who is a friend of Welham's and another Hull lad.

"Myself, my wife and my little girl have just spent the past four weeks in Australia," explained Welham.

"We went to Sydney for a week, to Newcastle for a few days and also to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

"We had it planned earlier in the year while I was at Hull KR.

"I worked hard all year and wasn't going to turn a holiday like that down.

"I needed a good rest but when I came back it was a bit of a mad rush to get something sorted out and talk terms with Bradford.

"Before I went away, I was speaking to a couple of Super League clubs and Bradford.

"Jimmy persuaded me to come here and I'm good friends with Lance, who had a lot of good things to say about the club.

"They twisted my arm and persuaded me to come here because ultimately we've all got the same goal - and that's to get Bradford back into Super League."

Welham's departure at the end of the 2015 campaign was an emotional one.

He had spent his entire career with the Robins and was a popular player with the Hull KR faithful.

But after contract talks broke down, Welham reconciled himself to the fact that it was time to move on.

Rovers boss Chris Chester moved on by signing Thomas Minns and Iain Thornley and Welham has done likewise in moving to Odsal.

"I was gutted when we couldn't come to an agreement over a deal," admitted Welham, who has twice been capped by the England Knights.

"I had been there nine years full-time and in the academy before that, so it was home to me.

"I'm a local lad and the club is on my doorstep, which made it even more special.

"I was a bit disappointed and gutted at not sorting a deal out there, but things come to an end.

"You have to move on and my main focus is on Bradford now.

"Training has been very tough this week and we don't want to be in that Million Pound Game next year.

"We want to get straight back into Super League and that means finishing in the top three of the Qualifiers."

2015 was a curious season for Rovers.

They reached their first Challenge Cup since 1986 but suffered a record-breaking 50-0 defeat at the hands of Leeds Rhinos.

They also finished in the bottom four of Super League but racked up seven straight wins in the Qualifiers to retain their top-flight status in some style.

Welham was a pivotal figure throughout, scoring his 100th career try with a delightful individual effort against the Bulls at Craven Park in the Qualifiers.

"It was up and down all year," said Welham.

"We didn't do too well in Super League and were below where we wanted and expected to be.

"But on the other hand, we got to a Challenge Cup final at Wembley and that was a massive achievement for the club.

"It was a heavy loss against Leeds, but we picked ourselves up and won seven out of seven in the Qualifiers."

A tumultuous chapter in his life has closed and now Welham is ready to move on and establish himself at Bradford.

He appears certain to be a first-choice centre on the left edge but accepts he will have to prove himself all over again first.

Welham, who will commute to Bradford from his home in Hull, said: "I don't expect to walk straight into the side.

"I'm like any other player at Bradford - you've got to fight for your spot and earn it.

"It will come down to Jimmy and his coaching staff to pick the team on the basis of what happens in training and during games.

"The good thing is that I'm familiar with a lot of the lads such as Omari Caro, Jonny Walker, Dale Ferguson and Danny Williams.

"They have all had stints at Hull KR, but I've played against all the boys there a few times as well.

"It's about forming a friendship and bond with them now and gaining their trust, as any new player would. I'm up for the challenge ahead."