SAM Hallas has apologised after losing his passport and missing the Bulls’ defeat at Toulouse.

The on-loan Leeds Rhinos player had been lined-up to make only his third appearance of the season for Bradford but was forced to stay at home.

“It was my own stupid fault. It was unprofessional and I have apologised to Stuart Duffy and Leigh Beattie because it was a really stupid thing and really frustrating.

“I was looking forward to getting into Toulouse, who are a big physical side and I like that aspect of the game.

“People have been joking and saying it was a ‘good one to miss’.

“But to go through those losses with your team-mates builds character so I am gutted.

“I was following it on Twitter and wishing them on. The game started to get away and I was gutted for them and I just wished I could have been out there with them.”

On his missing passport, Hallas, who had only been called up at short notice, added: “I just couldn’t find it. I will have to order a new one. I had no idea where it was.”

The hooker is determined to put the frustration of last week behind him and help Bulls finally reach the coveted zero mark in tomorrow’s crunch clash at Sheffield Eagles.

Despite three defeats on the trot, he insists confidence remains high in the camp.

“I’ve never been anywhere like it – there is just a real determination to do well,” said Hallas.

“It’s well documented what Bradford have been through but when we first walked through the door on coming to the club, the first person was Leon Pryce to welcome us.

“He was really upbeat and the other lads came and shook our hands. Everyone was upbeat.

“The environment we are in, it’s like we’re winning the league.

“Everyone knows the struggles we are going through but the determination, grit and desire is unbelievable. You’ve got to experience it to believe it.”

Sheffield may be a dozen points above Bulls in the Championship but only because of the penalty imposed on Bradford following liquidation.

Leigh Beattie’s troops have the same record as Eagles, both teams having won five and lost seven.

Hallas admits it doesn’t help looking at the table but is mindful of the bigger picture and is confident the Bulls can still avoid the drop.

He said: “If we’d started on zero, we’d be on ten points and mid-table.

“Obviously the minus two is a stinker but if you look at the stats we are not in bad shape.

“If the points deduction wasn’t there I think we would pushing to get in the middle eights to get into Super League.

“We’ve got the players here and the youth. In two or three years’ time, they will have had a lot of open-age experience and will be an unbelievable side.

“I wholeheartedly believe we will stay in the Championship and I’m going to try to do everything I can to help that.”

Aside from passport problems, an ankle injury has prevented Hallas – who initially arrived on loan with fellow Rhinos Jordan Lilley, Mikolaj Oledzki and Josh Jordan-Roberts – from much game time.

But he is hoping for more action before his loan is up at the end of the month.

He said: “I’m happy to play where ever, whether it’s No 9 or loose forward. I’ll give absolutely everything I’ve got.

“I know first hand I am not the best player with the ball in hand. I am no Jordan Lilley and have not got the size of Mikolaj but I pride myself on my desire and heart to give everything I’ve got.

“I’m learning from players like Scott Moore. He’s been there and done it and the experience he is passing down to me is invalulable.

“The change of environment helps me grow as a player. I would have liked to have played more games but I am getting back into it now.”