IT MIGHT not have felt it after Friday’s frustrating defeat at home to Halifax but the season so far has been largely encouraging for Bulls.

That they were in range of wiping out their 12-point penalty by the holiday period was an achievement in itself, given the turmoil liquidation brought.

And one of the key factors behind such progress is the way their youngsters have stepped up to the plate.

Thrown in ahead of schedule on a regular basis, they have shone in adversity and their performances will not have gone unnoticed outside of Odsal.

With most of the squad on one-year deals and contracts due to be looked at over the next couple of months, keeping the likes of Ethan Ryan, James Bentley and Brandan Wilkinson among others, would be a major boost.

Keeping them together would provide Bulls with a real platform to progress and winger Ryan agrees.

He said: “I’ve been through the academy with some of these boys and it shows on the field.

“You can tell we have been playing together for a few years. It will be good if we can come through this and kick on together.

“James Bentley scored four tries last week which was unbelievable, Ross (Oakes) looks like he has been playing (first team) for a few years, Evan (Hodgson) and Wilko up the middle – it’s great to see.”

Ryan became established in the first team last year and now his former academy team-mates are following suit. The 20-year-old added: “The learning curve has been massive. If you look at some stats from each of their games they have been in – it’s just unbelievable what they have achieved so far.

“For them to go through what we’ve gone through, come up through the academy, step into the first team and just slot in straight away – it’s unbelievable.

“Not many teams, whether its Super League, Championship, or anyone with reserve grades, could get so many young players like we have to step in and play week in, week out.”

Ryan, a Bradford fan before he was a player, is keen to remain at the club but a big factor in keeping the Bulls’ brightest young stars together is making sure they stay in the Championship.

Friday night’s defeat, coupled with Dewsbury’s first win, meant Bradford were cast four points adrift at the bottom of the league table.

And with today’s trip to Featherstone followed by another tough one to Toulouse, Leigh Beattie’s men have plenty of hard work ahead in their survival bid.

The acting coach has named the same squad that lost to Fax, with Dane Chisholm still in limbo until the RFL clear up the dispute with Sheffield over his registration. Lee Smith is still out with an injured ankle.

Former Bull Richard Moore looks set to return for Rovers after missing Friday’s defeat to Hull KR through suspension.

He is back in contention after taking the place of Kyle Briggs in an otherwise unchanged squad.

Bulls squad: Bentley, Campbell, Caro, Davies, Halafihi, Hodgson, Keyes, Kirk, Larroyer, Macani, Magrin, Moore, Oakes, Pryce, Roche, Ryan, Thomas, Wilkinson.

Featherstone squad: Ian Hardman, James Duckworth, Chris Ulugia, Misi Taulapapa, Anthony Thackeray, Darrell Griffin, Keal Carlile, Andy Bostock, Michael Knowles, John Davies, Richard Moore, Brad Tagg, Luke Cooper, Scott Turner, Matty Wildie, Kyran Johnson, James Lockwood, Josh Hardcastle, Cory Aston.