Stuart Reardon will put a Bulls jersey back on with the plea: Judge me on my rugby.

The former Great Britain international cannot wait to rejoin his old club for pre-season after 18 months of injury hell.

And he is just as keen to move on following his court conviction for assault against his estranged wife.

A return to Odsal is seen as a fresh start for the 28-year-old full back, who is ready to put his on and off-field problems behind him.

Reardon said: “I’ve finished all my community service and served my punishment. What’s happened is in the past and I just want to be judged on playing rugby.

“I’ve missed a lot of rugby and had too much time off. It makes you realise how lucky you are to play and I’m really glad that it’s going to be with the Bulls.”

Reardon has not played a game since April 2008 when he snapped his Achilles tendon for Warrington in a Challenge Cup tie against St Helens.

Two operations followed after initial complications, and for six months he was unable to walk.

He added: “It’s been a nightmare. A lot of things went on with the first operation and I went through bad rehab after that.

“All I’ve been concentrating on doing since is getting my leg right. That is all that has mattered for me.

“I’ve had some great help from a really good physio in Rob Harris. I’m feeling confident now and that’s all down to him.

“I need a pre-season because I haven’t had one since I left here. It’s been one injury after another after another.

“It’s going to take a while and hopefully I can get all my jitters out the way in pre-season. But it’s great to think I’m coming back to the Bulls, where it all started for me.”

Reardon will not be alone on the comeback trail. New Aussie signing Brett Kearney played less than half an hour of the last NRL season before he was taken off on a stretcher.

Reardon said: “He is in a similar position to me after a bad injury.

“I’m just feeling lucky that it hasn’t finished me like what happened to Paul Sculthorpe.

“Being injured is the worst feeling in the world but the leg is fine now. Things happen for a reason and it feels right to be back here again.

“I didn’t really want to leave the Bulls last time but you go where you think you’ve got the best offer. Now I’m excited to get the chance to work with Steve McNamara here again.”