AFTER five seasons as a Bulls player, Adrian Purtell has reconciled himself to the possibility of moving on to pastures new.

The club captain remains contracted at Odsal for 2017 and will make his long-awaited comeback from injury in tomorrow’s visit of Halifax.

Getting back on the field again after over three months on the sidelines following shoulder surgery remains his overriding focus.

But the 31-year-old looks increasingly likely to move on at the end of the year with a switch to London Broncos, with the prospect of a coaching role, believed to be on the cards.

“At the moment, I am still under contract for next year but there is a lot of stuff going on at the club at the moment and I just want to get back playing first,” said Purtell.

“I can then look at everything else from there and obviously the club has to build going forward as well.

“They are going to have to start again with a different plan and a new coach.

"My career can’t go on forever and I have to start looking at opportunities for after footie as well.”

Former Bulls team-mate Jamie Langley coaches the Broncos’ academy and Purtell could take a similar role.

The Australian centre added: “I would love to stay in the game but would need some experience of coaching first.

“Langers is down there coaching the academy and I would like to get a taste of it too.

“Whether I will like it or not, I’m not too sure as I’ve never coached professionally before.

“But if that opportunity came up, it’s definitely something that I would look at.”

Purtell’s five seasons at Odsal have seen plenty of tears and heartache, on and off the field, as well as a huge personal triumph over adversity.

Take the two spells the Bulls have had in administration and the subsequent six-point penalties.

Consider the club’s relegation from Super League in 2014 and the agonising failure to come back up last year.

Above all, sit back and applaud the rare fortitude that Purtell showed to bounce back from a life-threatening heart attack in 2012.

Purtell reflected: “It has been a bit of a rollercoaster and I would never have envisaged everything we have had to go through.

“I guess you can say it has been character-building and I have always been happy and enjoyed my time here.

“Whatever has gone on off the field, I’ve tried to conduct myself in a professional way.

“I feel I have done that in my whole time here.

“It hasn’t been ideal, but as a person I think it has helped me to grow immensely. That will stand me in good stead for next year.”

Purtell has not featured since scoring in a 52-16 home win over Workington on April 24 – Jimmy Lowes’ final game in charge.

He has watched in frustration from the stands as the Bulls’ season has gradually fallen apart at the seams.

The former Canberra and Penrith star said: “Through the good times and the bad, you want to be there with the boys and offer something.

“I hate watching when I’m injured anyway, but going through a tough period and not being able to help the team was tough to take.

“I wanted to get it sorted with the operation and get myself right to play in the middle eights at the end of the year had we made them.

“Rohan has been great to me through my rehab and I’m just looking forward to putting in a good performance against Halifax.

“I feel in really good condition and can’t wait to get out there. If I start, I feel I can contribute and do a full 80 minutes at a high level.

“Other than time out after my heart problem, I have been quite lucky in that I haven’t missed too many games through injury in my career. Now that I’m back, I’m raring to go.”