JORDAN Lilley has praised the adaptability of his team-mate Sam Hallas as the Bulls try to close in on automatic promotion from Betfred League One.

The Leeds Rhinos half-back, who is on loan from Leeds Rhinos until the end of the 2019 season, said of the hooker: "He has played most of his amateur days as a prop forward.

"Defensively Sam has always brought aggression, and he can get off the line and whack and rock some heads – he is only a little fella like myself – but now he has adapted to be an outstanding No 9.

"Maybe two years ago, people would have said of him 'You have got to be more creative, you have to see those things', and maybe Sam thought that himself.

"He has always had the passing game and the running game out of dummy half, but he has had to work on spotting numbers because rugby league is a numbers game and you have to catch them off guard when they get it wrong."

Lilley added of his former Stanningley product: "Now Sam has got that to a tee.

"If he sees three on the short or a late retreat, he will spot that, and there is only more to come from him."

Lilley, like Hallas, went over for a try in the 46-0 crushing of Whitehaven last Sunday at Odsal, and praised the home pack for front-foot ball, which he often hasn't had at Leeds.

He said: "Steve Crossley, Mikey Wood and James Green, who is an outstanding addition, take us forward and get us on the front foot.

"It makes my job easier and it makes Sam's job easier and you haven't got defenders in your face.

"Previously I haven't been able to create because I haven't had the time."