ROHAN Smith and his players face another anxious wait to discover if they will be paid – but the Bulls boss is looking forward to focusing on rugby matters again.

On Wednesday, chairman Marc Green reassured the club’s workforce they would receive their wages by close of play today.

It remains to be seen if that will happen but Smith has turned his attentions to Sunday’s trip to Whitehaven.

The Bulls kick off their Championship Shield campaign with a long trip to Cumbria and the head coach said: “We had a chat with the senior player group at the back end of Wednesday.

“The boys were really adamant about really performing positively at Whitehaven.

“I think sometimes that's the best way to clear your head - to get back out there and do what you love doing.

“During the week, there can be distractions all the time.

“But once they get back out on the field, I think a lot of the boys go into auto-pilot and do what they have done since they were kids.

“That's playing hard and enjoying your rugby.

“There has been a lot of talking done this week and some uncertainty, but really it's just about how we prepare for this weekend's game at Whitehaven.

“Enough talking - let's get out there and have some action.”

Smith’s younger brother Keegan, a leading strength and conditioning coach who has worked with several NRL clubs, has spent time in camp with the Bulls this week.

Bulls captain Adrian Purtell is closing in on a return from injury and Mitch Clark is due back next week.

But Lee Gaskell and Paul Clough remain sidelined along with Rhys Lovegrove.