Bulls will be under starters orders to come bursting out of the blocks this season.

Catalans’ shock victory at St Helens might ultimately have cost Steve McNamara’s men a top-eight berth last term but it was the blundering beginning to the campaign that really proved their undoing.

Nobody should need reminding how slow the Bulls were to get going but McNamara is making sure the message is rammed home well before hostilities recommence in the spring.

It still makes painful reading; one draw and three defeats from the first four games; only two wins in the opening ten games.

Those are statistics not usually associated with one of Super League’s traditional powerhouses.

As starts go, it was more Billy Bunter than Usain Bolt – and left the Bulls flailing in the slipstream of the pack.

And despite the storming sprint to the finish line which saw them sign off with five straight victories, the damage had already been done five months earlier.

That’s why, when the first group of players return for pre-season training on Monday, McNamara will waste no time in stressing the importance of performing right from the off.

New signing Danny Sculthorpe may be one of those who will not begin work at Odsal for another fortnight.

But he was made fully aware of what the coach will demand when they finalised his switch from Wakefield.

Sculthorpe said: “When I sat down with Steve for a meeting, he talked about how much we need a big start to the season. There’s no doubt that was what let them down before and he said that it can’t happen again.

“Everyone knows that winning is a habit but unfortunately losing is the same. Things start going against you.

“But the way the Bulls finished last season shows how you can get a run going and it was just unfortunate that they missed out because Saints lost to Catalans.

“The expectation is always going to be high because they are a massive club. They’ve won a lot of trophies down the years, which have been fully deserved, and supporters expect the team to be doing well.

“That’s the attraction for coming to a club like this. It’s a big challenge and even more so because of the disappointment of last season, which we want to put right.

“It’s looking good. They had a good squad anyway and have brought some quality players in.

“Hopefully we can take it a step further next year and make sure we’re in that top eight.”

Sculthorpe is relieved to be putting down some roots after an unsettled period at Belle Vue. With the security of a two-year deal, the former Wigan and Castleford prop is ready to lend his experience to bringing through the crop of youngsters now getting their chance at Odsal.

He added: “I remember when I was coming through at Wigan and playing alongside people like Quentin Pongia, Terry O’Connor and Craig Smith. As a young player learning the game, I could look up to them.

“Bradford have got some good young players and hopefully I can do the same – although seeing some of the players here, it will be hard for me, never mind the young kids.

“But I’m really looking forward to getting involved. I can’t wait to get to know my new team-mates and coaching staff.

“Pre-season will be pretty difficult for the first three or four weeks but it is so important to make sure we’re in the best shape for the season.”

And hitting the ground running.