Leon Pryce wants to get his season off to a bang when the Bulls take on Penrith in the World Club Challenge next month.

Last season the livewire 23-year-old played with the threat of a possible jail sentence hanging over him following a bar room incident in 2002.

Pryce eventually pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was sentenced to 120 hours community service, but the threat of a possible custodial sentence saw him left out of the Great Britain squad to face Australia.

Through it all, on the field, Pryce continued to produce match-winning performances. It was his try-scoring appearance from the bench against a tiring Leeds Rhinos that saw the Bulls through to the Grand Final, when he earned the thanks of his team-mates and a roasting from the Wigan fans for putting dangerman Brian Carney out of action with a heavy tackle.

A happy-go-lucky sort of character, Pryce doesn't seem fazed by the turmoil that often surrounds him.

While he is looking forward to simply getting out and playing rugby this season, last year, he said, wasn't all that bad.

"I'm hoping to carry on from where I left off last year. I had a good season and I enjoyed it. I want to take it to the next level this year and start off with a bang against Penrith."

Losing his Great Britain place for the Australia series did hurt, admitted Pryce: "I watched all of the games down at the pub and I really wanted the boys to do well. It was hard not being part of it."

Getting his GB shirt back is a goal high on Pryce's list but, first and foremost, he wants to nail down a starting spot at the Bulls.

Last year Pryce scored 22 tries in 29 appearances but it wasn't enough to earn an automatic starting spot at his favoured stand-off position.

"I was disappointed during the finals to be on the bench and I think when I came on I had a point to prove. I didn't want to be on the bench then and I don't want to be on the bench again this year."