Brian McDermott watched the recent rugby league Guinness Tests with a mixture of satisfaction and disappointment.

It is five years since the Bradford Bulls prop made his four Great Britain appearances against the Australian Super League and Fiji.

But the 30-year-old still has international ambitions, and admits: "I would love to play for Great Britain again."

"But when I look at the four who played prop in the Ashes Series (Barrie McDermott, Terry O'Connor and Bulls pair Paul Anderson and Stuart Fielden) I could not point the finger about them being picked - they did a great job."

McDermott has, along with the majority of his fellow Bulls squad members, just finished the initial two-and-a-half weeks of their pre-season training.

With them have been some of the club's youngsters - though many of the Alliance side have joined or been loaned out to Northern Ford Premiership clubs.

And McDermott and his teammates have been instrumental in passing on a few crucial tips to the likes of 19-year-old hooker Aaron Smith.

"We have been working in the gym, on the track at Horsfall Playing Fields and on the artificial grass at Bradford University," said Smith.

"I did the same last season, but hopefully I can stay with the first-team squad in 2002 if I earn a squad shirt.

"You pick up little things from the older players about techniques and what to do in certain situations, and you do realise how fit and skilful they are.

"Players such as Brian McDermott have been really good in encouraging us."

Wakefield-born McDermott joined the Bulls from the Marines, having played for Eastmoor at amateur level.

And the Marines proved a vastly more testing environment for McDermott than the Bulls first-team squad is for the club's youngsters.

"When I was in the Marines, people didn't talk to you for two years," revealed McDermott.

"But that is not the sort of attitude that we have at the Bulls. There are no prima donnas, and some of these lads will be in the first-team squad here before long.

"The important thing is that they are showing the right attitude, even though they have lots to learn.

"They need to know what we go through, how we tick and what we eat."

The Bulls' players are currently on their Christmas and New Year break and will resume training on Thursday, January 3.

Joining them then will several members of the club's Great Britain squad - Paul Deacon, Mike Forshaw and Stuart Fielden - plus 'The Volcano' Lesley Vainikolo and prop Joe Vagana.

Great Britain squad members Leon Pryce, Paul Anderson and Jamie Peacock have all returned early to training after the Ashes Series.