BULLS rookie Ross Oakes believes the more experience he can gain in the remaining games, the better he will be when next season kicks off.

The young centre from Birkenshaw marked his third senior appearance with a first try in Sunday's 30-26 defeat at relegated Workington.

Oakes is among a six-strong group of academy players who have been promoted to Rohan Smith's first-team squad for 2017.

The teenager said: "I enjoyed it again on Sunday because every opportunity is a great experience, especially against a big, physical side like Workington.

"It was good to get on the scoreboard but just a shame about the result.

"There are a few games left and if Rohan thinks I have shown him I can do it, then hopefully I can keep on playing this year.

"I can then kick on in pre-season and hopefully play a good few games next year."

Oakes made his first-team debut in a 52-18 win at Dewsbury in April and has been a regular in the under-19s team this year.

"I have been supporting the Bulls since I was three or four years old, so it's a dream come true to be playing for the club now," he said.

"I started in the scholarship and have worked my way up to the under-19s and now the first team."

Oakes, James Bentley, Liam Kirk, Brandon Pickersgill, Josh Rickett and Brandan Wilkinson have penned professional contracts for the 2017 campaign.

Kirk and Rickett made their senior debuts at Workington on Sunday and Oakes said: "It's good for us to get a few games under our belt now, so when the new season starts we already have some valuable first-team experience."

DAVIDE Longo, who played for Bradford, Swinton, Keighley, Batley and Dewsbury, is the new commercial manager at the Bulls.

Longo has spent the last three years as general manager of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation and his arrival follows the departure of Rob Parker and Robbie Hunter-Paul this season.