For a man who spent two decades at one club, working for three in a season is pretty uncharacteristic behaviour.

But as what proved to be an eventful year, by anyone's standards, draws to a close, Lee St Hilaire's feet are now firmly rooted at his new home of the Grattan Stadium - and he couldn't be happier.

"You read and see about Bradford Bulls being awesome at what they do and to be here to see it for myself has made me realise just how good it all is," said Steve McNamara's assistant coach.

"I am really fortunate to be in this position. They are a great bunch of players and I am loving the work we're doing."

St Hilaire made his name as an uncompromising hooker/loose forward with home-town club Huddersfield, where he spent the majority of his career save for short spells at Castleford and Hunslet.

He returned to the Galpharm Stadium when a knee injury cut short his playing days, working his way up through the ranks as a coach and serving under John Kear, Tony Smith and then Jon Sharp.

St Hilaire, 39, eventually became Sharp's assistant but he resigned in March - a difficult working relationship with the Huddersfield boss is thought to have been the reason - and accepted a similar post at Wakefield just a few days later. St Hilaire won't divulge details of the parting of the ways, simply saying: "It just ran its course. I'd had 20 years there at Huddersfield as a coach and player and I reckon I'd gone a bit stale.

"I knew (Wakefield boss) Tony Smith from our time together at Cas and two days after I left Huddersfield he was on the phone."

St Hilaire's spell at Belle Vue didn't last long though. He departed when Smith was sacked in July with the Wildcats staring relegation in the face.

He said: "Wakefield had some quality players but there was just something missing. But I enjoyed the work there and I was glad to see John Kear come in and put back in what they were missing - and keep them in Super League."

McNamara, meanwhile, had long been eyeing his former Huddersfield team-mate for the vacant assistant role at Odsal.

Phil Veivers had followed Brian Noble to Wigan in April, leaving the Bulls coaching staff decimated, but new chief McNamara refused to rush into a panic appointment.

He eventually got his man in July and with Basil Richards, another former Huddersfield colleague, also on board, Bradford were back up to a full complement and ready to start a new regime.

Having joined two-thirds of the way through the season, St Hilaire is now settled into the role and looking forward to his first full campaign as a Bulls employee.

He reckons there are exciting times ahead and said: "With the quality of players coming in - like David Solomona, who I worked with at Wakey and who has a real X factor, and Chris Feather - the squad is shaping up pretty well.

"As a coach, I like the tough, confrontational battles that go on on the field and Bradford have had a reputation in past years for being that sort of uncompromising team. We're looking to achieve that again and these players are a great bunch and very hard-working.

"I am looking forward to 2007 and getting a full pre-season under way here. And Huddersfield are going to be the first match. Fancy that!"

The Giants visit Grattan Stadium on Sunday, February 11 - four days before his 40th birthday - and it's a big day for another Bull: Marcus St Hilaire.

The full back got plenty of stick from Bradford team-mates when his elder brother turned up last season as the club's new assistant coach.

Marcus had played with Lee at Huddersfield and also been coached by him at the Galpharm, while the pair are very close off the field too, but business is business at Odsal.

"When I worked with him at Huddersfield, it was strange as we'd been in the first team together and it was hard to shut off from being a coach and player to being brother and brother," said Lee.

"We missed a good few months of being brothers but the second time around it's a lot easier.

"He still knows the boundaries. What are they? Don't push me or he'll get flogged! Nah, I treat him with respect as a player and I expect the same back as a coach."

St Hilaire admits he is enjoying the relative anonymity of Bradford, explaining: "I'm lucky really. I played at Huddersfield and coached there too but now I've come to a club where I've done neither and it's all fresh to me.

"I've got my own techniques but I believe that Steve McNamara, Basil, myself and the rest all know where we want to go and what we need to do at Bradford."

Pratt back in action

Karl Pratt has come out of retirement - with Pennine League Division Four high-fliers Wortley Dragons!

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the Bulls utility man packing in the professional game.

He had endured SEVEN operations on his chronic shoulder injuries and hung up his boots at the age of just 25.

However, Pratt isn't finished yet. It has emerged the former Great Britain international has made a comeback with the Leeds amateur side he has been coaching for the last 18 months.

Pratt dug out his boots to debut in their titanic clash with Slaithwaite Saracens a fortnight ago and helped Wortley rack up a 16-6 win over their title rivals.

They are now two points clear of the chasing pack, having lost just once all season.

One of Pratt's team-mates is veteran former Hunslet Hawks prop Steve Pryce - cousin of old Bulls favourites Leon and Karl - and they are back in action at Liversedge on Saturday (2.00).