Paul Deacon reckons the Bulls have bagged themselves a “hungry teenager” by re-signing Stuart Reardon.

Deacon is excited to see his former team-mate back at Odsal for next season.

And the Bulls skipper believes that Reardon’s injury horrors will mean they have snapped up a player absolutely desperate to weave his magic again.

“Signing Stuart again is like signing a 17-year-old,” said Deacon, one of the handful of survivors from Reardon’s hugely-successful first spell with his hometown club.

“After being out as long as he has, he will have that hunger and enthusiasm you get from a kid first coming through the ranks. He will be desperate to play.

“Snapping the Achilles tendon is the worst injury you can get as a sportsman. I felt really sorry for him, especially when it went again when he signed for Hull.

“I’m really pleased that Bradford have given him the chance to get back doing what he loves. Stuart’s a Bradford lad as well so he must be made up with the situation.

“He always played with real enthusiasm and hopefully he can bring that to the team again next season.”

Reardon broke into the Great Britain side with the Bulls in 2003 but having not played at all for 18 months, his sights are set on establishing himself back on the Super League scene rather than looking any higher.

Reardon said: “All players have got ambitions to represent their country but I don’t want to look too far ahead. I’m just concentrating on playing again after the injury and doing well for my club.”

Some Bulls fans have voiced their doubts whether Reardon can possibly hit the heights from previous years after all his troubles but Deacon is confident the former Harry Sunderland award winner will prove his worth.

He added: “It’s a good bit of business for the club because a fit Stuart Reardon is international class.

“It’s never easy coming back from a long-term injury but they say class is permanent.”

Deacon, meanwhile, is looking forward to teaming up with new Aussie half-back Brett Kearney – though he knows little about him.

“I totally lost touch of Australian rugby league when Setanta went bust,” he smiled. “But I’ve heard very good things about him and I know he is very quick.

“I’m sure Bradford have seen the quality in him and it will be good to get to know each other.”