Bulls boss Brian Noble expects his departing stars to go out with a bang.

With Jamie Peacock, Leon Pryce, Stuart Reardon and Lee Radford having combined for more than 600 appearances for the club, their departure at the end of the season signals the end of an era - and the beginning of a new one.

With all four of the departing players having forged their careers by graduating from the club's junior ranks, Noble believes they will be determined to depart in style.

"We know that some people are leaving but they want to leave on a high note," said Noble.

"Why wouldn't you? This will be the last time this particular team ever plays together and some of them are seasoned Bradford people who have been here for a number of years.

"That is a huge motivation for the players and I want to reinforce that message. They have given great service to the Bradford club and I am sure they want to leave it on a high."

The club are doing their best to put a brave face on the loss of skipper Jamie Peacock to arch-rivals Leeds Rhinos, although Noble conceded the exit of the 2003 Man of Steel was a major disappointment.

"I am not going to hide behind that fact; it is a loss," said Noble, who refused to criticise Peacock for his decision to quit the club.

"Jamie is a personal friend of mine. I've known him since he first came to the club.

"I remember sitting on a hillside at Siddal watching his game and thinking: 'I don't know how we are going to make a player out of this guy'.

"But he had something and he has made himself a player. He is very determined and very ambitious; he loves a challenge, which I think is one of the reasons he is leaving.

"Nobody will say a bad word about him to me. He is a terrific bloke and a terrific player and he will be a loss."

Chairman Chris Caisley also said Peacock would leave with the club's best wishes.

Jamie has been a fantastic player for the Bulls over many years and he has been consistently one of our top performers with a great work ethic," said Caisley.

"I thank him for the service he has given and fully understand his wish to opt for a new challenge at this stage of his career."

The club must now look forward rather than back, insisted Caisley.

"As long as we continue to adhere to our core principles concerning player recruitment and development, we will be able to cope with inevitable player departures," he said.

"We will now move on and continue with our rebuilding plans for 2006 and beyond."