Peter Hood is no doubt as to who was the find of Super League XI.

"It's got to be our own Sam Burgess," said the Bradford Bulls chairman of the 17-year-old prop.

"Is there another young player who has come to recognition like him? Our fans who watch the Academy teams will have known of him but he is now recognised within the game by the TV pundits and commentators and the press."

Burgess, noted for his big hits, made his first-team debut at Leeds Rhinos on July 7 and appeared in nine matches off the bench in all.

He scored tries in back-to-back matches at the end of the season - at Huddersfield Giants in the last regular game and against Salford City Reds in the first round of the play-offs.

"Sam is the main youngster to have broken through this year and it should be remembered that the young Bulls players work hard to get the game-time that they need," said Hood.

"You can also look at Craig Kopczak, Matt James and Matt Cook, who didn't feature for several weeks after being out with a shoulder injury."

Hood is convinced there will be more youngsters for Bulls fans to familiarise themselves with in 2007.

"I'm sure you will find that when Steve McNamara's squad numbers are announ-ced next season there will be new names from the junior ranks, no question about it," he said.

Hood also made a salient point about the departure of 20-year-old Karl Pryce to Gloucester Rugby Union Club.

"It is a huge disappointment that Karl has decided to pursue his career in another direction," he said.

"Karl is one of those players who have decided to have a go at union early in his career.

"Others go much later in their careers, at around 30 years of age, and it is interesting that he is doing it the other way around.

"But we retain Karl's registration as a rugby league player until the December of the year in which he becomes 23, which is an important thing for T&A readers to understand.

"If Karl were to return to rugby league and, as a hypothetical situation, were to join St Helens, then that would automatically go to tribunal for a transfer fee - or he could come straight back to Bradford without a tribunal."

The Bulls players return to full training on Monday, November 20 and Hood said: "That is earlier than normal but they will get ten days off for Christmas.

"All the players needing medical procedures have already been dealt with, such as Lesley Vainikolo, to give them maximum rehabilitation time.

"The game is getting tougher and players need to be better prepared mentally as well as physically. Mental preparation's crucial."