IT is a half-back partnership that Rohan Smith will hope can fire Bradford back into Super League at the third attempt.

Leon Pryce and Dane Chisholm will form the creative fulcrum of Smith’s team in 2017 as the Bulls seek to bounce back from this year’s failure to reach the top four.

Over 20 members of the 2016 first-team squad will not be here next season and the list of departures includes many key men such as Lee Gaskell, Danny Addy and Mitch Clark.

It is the biggest exodus at Odsal in living memory, yet Pryce and Chisholm in tandem next season is a tantalising prospect.

That cannot be denied.

Pryce still encapsulates many of the qualities required to unlock the best defences; outstanding passing ability, skill in abundance, leadership qualities and a cool head under pressure.

The only quality missing, perhaps, is the pace but these days his astute footballing brain more than compensates for what his legs can no longer achieve.

This is where Chisholm comes into the equation.

Anyone who has seen the impish Aussie in action for the Bulls since he arrived a couple of months ago will testify that he is blessed with natural speed.

That much was evident when he collected Kieren Moss’ pass on the edge of the Bulls’ 20-metre line and outstripped the Dewsbury defence to score a brilliant individual try on Monday.

“Will we complement each other as a partnership? Definitely,” said Chisholm.

“Leon’s a great footie player who has been there and done it all during his career.

“It will be awesome for me to have someone like him alongside me controlling everything.

“I can hopefully do a few things off the back of what he does.

“I think having someone like Leon will be perfect for all the new boys in the team next year.

“He’s an older head who will get all the boys gelling because he’s been there and done it at the highest level.

“He knows how to get the job done and will bring a lot of maturity to the club, which we probably need.”

Pryce has enjoyed a glorious career and remains an iconic figure in the history of Super League.

He won the treble with his hometown club in 2003 and then repeated the trick at St Helens in 2006, when he dovetailed superbly alongside Sean Long.

Pryce left Bradford for Saints because he wanted to play as a stand-off and following his time at Knowsley Road he enjoyed three years at Catalans before joining Hull ahead of the 2015 campaign.

Chisholm is hoping for similar success in his career, starting with the Championship Shield in the coming weeks.

“In school when I was about 10 years old, I wrote a letter,” explained Chisholm.

“It was addressed to myself about what I wanted to be when I grew up.

“It was funny because I opened up the letter not so long ago and it literally said I wanted to be a professional football player and travel the world.

“I am now living the dream and I’m loving it.”

Is Chisholm worried at the number of players leaving the club?

He said: “It’s not a concern, but it’s hard to see them go because in such a short space of time I’ve become very good friends with them.

“It hurts more in that respect, so Rohan has a got a job on his hands in going out there and signing more players.

“So far what he has brought to the club has been class – take Kieren Moss, for example.

“He’s a freakish player and it’s good to have someone at the back who is so safe.

“We sort of have the same mindset where we can just play off each other.

“The more games we play together, the better it will get. On a personal note, I’m ready to go for next year already and can’t wait to rip in.”

Chisholm played a pivotal role in Monday’s win at Dewsbury but he admitted: “We were a bit all over the place and have to get back to the drawing board.

“It’s hard at times, though, when you’re putting up to 80 points on the opposition one week and then facing tough opposition in Dewsbury the following week.

“It almost hits you in the face, so we need to stay more composed and focus on the things we do in training.

“On the back of that, we can then do more of the ‘miracle’ plays and the goal is to finish off on a high.

“I won the Under-20s grand final when I was playing at Melbourne Storm.

“In the New South Wales Cup final, we got pipped right at the end and just got beat.

“I won two Under-18s premierships in a row with the Mullumbimby Giants, my junior club.

“So I would like to add the Championship Shield to my list of honours.”