ADAM O'Brien is aiming to take his impressive end-of-season form into 2017 after setting his sights on firing the Bulls back into Super League.

The home-grown hooker was axed for the crucial final-day trip to Featherstone as Rohan Smith's men slumped to defeat and missed out on a place in the Qualifiers.

Yet O'Brien bounced back in style, re-establishing himself as the Bulls' first-choice starting hooker and helping the club to lift the Championship Shield, scoring twice in the final against Sheffield.

The Halifax lad, who made his debut for Bradford against Huddersfield in March 2011, reckons he has won over head coach Smith after being a fixture in the side under Jimmy Lowes.

"There has been chopping and changing at the club – but at the end of the day it's a business and coaches come and go," said O'Brien.

"Jimmy went out and Rohan came in but I think I brought some good form to the team in the last six to eight weeks of the season.

"I played some good rugby and Rohan was picking me and playing me for longer minutes, so I must have been doing something right in that case.

"All I can do is focus on my performances and do my bit for the team. Hopefully Rohan will keep picking me.

"The way I ended the campaign is definitely something to build on and you don't want the season to end when you're in good form. So yes, I was happy with my form going into the off-season.

"I'm still only young and have done a bit in my career so far. But I've got a lot more yet to prove and am looking forward to kicking on and maybe the next few years will be my peak time.

"I'll crack on in pre-season and the new campaign will soon come around. You have your break at Christmas, then your friendlies in January, and before you know it the season has started again in February.

"It's a quick turnaround but hopefully my form will stick and I can crack on again for next year."

Head coach Smith praised O'Brien for the attitude and professionalism he showed in the wake of the Featherstone snub.

With Stuart Howarth's loan from Wakefield having expired at the end of the 2016 campaign, O'Brien is in line to emerge as the senior hooker at Odsal next year.

Joe Lumb and Vila Halafihi are contracted for next season, while Phil Joseph could also be used at number nine.

O'Brien reflected: "Being dropped at Featherstone was probably one of the lowest points – but what hurt more was not getting in the middle eights at the end of that game.

"It's a coach's choice and at the end of the day he made it. It might have been right, it might have been wrong, but we will never know.

"I couldn't sit and sulk, I just had to get on with my job and I felt I put in some good performances in the last six to eight weeks of the season."

O'Brien is highly regarded in the game and the 23-year-old has previously been linked with Leeds Rhinos.

"I don't want to be in the Championship forever but my goal is to help get Bradford back into Super League," he said.

"The nucleus of the side are staying and although the squad has come down in size, we have made some promising signings. Hopefully we can have a good year this coming season."