JAMES Bentley admits the Bulls young guns are in the dark over their future because of the club's current position.

The emergence of the talented youngsters has been the one shining light during a troubled campaign at Odsal.

Bentley and Ross Oakes have burst on to the scene this season, while Ethan Ryan continues to make progress in his second year of senior rugby.

Leon Pryce described Bentley as the "best player in the Championship" after scoring four tries in the April win over Sheffield – the Bulls' last success.

Pryce urged the Bulls to tie down Bentley, who is currently on a one-year professional contract, to a longer-term deal as interest spread among Super League sides.

Yet with the Bulls still rooted to the Championship basement, they cannot look too far ahead.

Bentley said: "With the situation we're in, we don't know where we are going to be next year. Nothing has been said. I would like to stay here but we'll have to see what happens."

Bentley notched his tenth try of the season at Dewsbury on Sunday but a seventh successive defeat dropped Bradford eight points behind the second-bottom Rams.

The in-form rookie is still enjoying his first taste of the senior game and has been likened in style to a young version of John Bateman.

Bentley is flattered by the comparison but would love to follow in the list of home-grown graduates who have gone on to make their mark.

"A lot of legends have come through this club, players like John Bateman, Sam Burgess and Elliott Whitehead," he said.

"They are all in a similar position to me – (Jamie) Peacock as well – and I look up to them and aspire to achieve some of the things they have done. That's my goal."