World Cup star Michael Platt was rewarded for his exerting “trip of a lifetime” – by being ordered back early for Bulls training!

The full back played all three games as brilliant underdogs Ireland shook things up in Australia.

They came close to a shock semi-final spot and won the hearts of neutrals before eventually falling to Fiji.

But there has been little chance of a breather for Platt since.

While the rest of Bradford’s World Cup contingent are all off until the new year, he is already working overtime.

“I got three weeks holiday, which is a bit less than the rest, but Macca feels full back should be the fittest player in the team,” he said.

“If that means coming in a bit early, so be it, and I’m all for it. As a full back you do do a lot of mileage and I want to be fitter than ever for the start of the season.

“I can’t afford not to be and it’s coming around quick. I’m excited by the prospect.”

After the added toil of his World Cup exploits, the ex-Castleford ace could be forgiven for feeling less enthusiastic than some about the start of another Super League campaign.

“This year was a long season over all but what happened with Ireland really was special,” he explained.

“It’s something I’ll never forget, a true trip of a lifetime.

“We had a great set of lads who all got on well and it was out of this world, the whole experience.

“In the end, Fiji deserved to get to the semis as they were a bit better than us and probably better than we thought they’d be.

“But it was a brilliant time for everyone.”

Platt, 24, was initially thought to be interesting England, having been in Tony Smith’s Great Britain train-on squad last year.

But when the call didn’t come he took up the Irish option and it proved a masterstroke given England’s disastrous experiences Down Under.

“If I’d have been with them I probably wouldn’t have played anyway with Paul Wellens being there,” Platt added.

“They didn’t do too well in Australia and with Ireland we probably came out of it all with a lot more respect than they did.

“In the process, we had a better time over there as well and I was proud to be a part of it all.”

But now all eyes turn back to Bradford and Super League XIV.

Platt joined the squad for a team-bonding exercise in the Yorkshire Dales last week, a far cry from the beaches of Sydney.

“It was good to get together like that and get to know the new lads better,” he said.

“We’ve got some real quality in the squad this year and a lot of experience with Deacs, Tez (Newton), Morro and now Steve Menzies.

“But the kids are coming through too and it’s good to have them about; they’re just waiting to do our jobs for us if we don’t perform.”