TOM Olbison is hoping to sign a new deal at the Bulls after admitting the club hold a special place in his heart.

The homegrown second-rower has emerged as a mainstay in the team after progressing through the academy and making his first-team debut against Warrington in 2009.

Olbison, who joined Bradford in 2007 from East Leeds after being on the club's scholarship, is among a large group of players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.

Yet the Leeds lad is keen to extend his stay at Odsal and said: "I'd like to think I will be sticking around. There are a few of us here who have come through the Bradford ranks and it's kind of instilled in you that this is your club.

"It's similar to when you come through the ranks at your amateur team. To become a first-team player here is a proud thing to have done and I've been here for seven or eight years now.

"To be honest, I try not to think about next year too much and I leave it to my agent. But I see Bradford as my club and would definitely like to stay here."

The 25-year-old has faced stiff competition for his place in the side this season and has also been used as an extra prop at times.

Olbison said: "You always have personal goals and want to play well yourself – but I feel like I'm going all right.

"There are a lot of good lads here and you've got to be on your toes. The minute you're not, you'll be out."

The Bulls stuffed Workington 52-16 on Sunday in the final game of Jimmy Lowes' reign and Olbison paid tribute to his departing head coach.

"With it being Jimmy's last game in charge, in the back of your mind you always want to perform for that reason," he said.

"But there is also that element of us wanting to push on in the league and keep picking up those two points. There was more a focus on getting the win and moving on up the table, which we did.

"I've enjoyed all Jimmy's time here. We just fell short at the final hurdle last year but I can't knock Jimmy's time here one bit.

"He's been the heart and soul of things for us and the club, especially with his history here as a player."

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the Bulls will share their Tong training facility with the newly-formed League 1 outfit Toronto Wolfpack from 2017.

The Canadian team was formally launched yesterday with former Bulls boss Brian Noble heading up the operation as director of rugby and ex-Leigh coach Paul Rowley as head coach.

The arrangement coud lead to a dual-reg arrangement between Bradford and Toronto as well as joint training sessions at Tong.

Rowley said: "We will be based in Bradford, which will allow us to recruit players from both sides of the Pennines."