Rookie Craig Kopczak is bidding to upgrade as a Super League regular in 2007.

The Bulls prop turns 20 five days before Christmas, marking the end of his teenage years.

As he arrives as a man, now he's looking to see his rugby grow in stature as well and become a senior member of Steve McNamara's squad, having enjoyed a brief flirtation this year.

One of the final acts of Brian Noble's tenure as head coach before walking out for Wigan in April was to hand Kopczak his first-team debut.

The rangy forward impressed off the bench against Huddersfield and featured the following week at Warrington but then did not get a look-in for the rest of the summer.

With Andy Lynch, Joe Vagana and Brad Meyers taking care of the front-row slots - later to be joined by Kopczak's Academy team-mate Sam Burgess once Stuart Fielden also left for Wigan - the Eccleshill lad found himself back in the under-21s.

But now he is ready to push hard for a regular slot, saying: "I want more. I got a taste of things last year and that has just given me more desire to train harder and become a first-team regular.

"It was amazing playing against Hudd-ersfield at Odsal and it was everything I thought Super League rugby would be. I'm a Bradford lad, so it was a proud night, but now I want more of the same."

Kopczak admits as a kid he admired the talents of front-row giants Fielden, Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley, latterly training alongside them while coming through the Academy ranks at Odsal.

Now he hopes to follow the same sort of career path but knows the hard work is just beginning.

"I need to get bigger and I now know Super League is so fast," he said.

"Everyone says it's getting faster and they are not wrong. I've got to train hard here."

McNamara worked closely with Kopczak when he was in charge of the under-21s and sees no reasons why he can't make the top-flight grade.

"Craig got a couple of opportunities last season and did very well, while he was really close right at the back of the year to be in again," said the boss.

"I think if he gets himself physically in shape he is going to give himself the best opportunity to play more again this time.

"I've really been pleased with his attitude in pre-season. He came back at the weight we asked him to and he's now doing extra work on top.

"I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities for Craig if he does get in tip-top condition and stays in that shape."