VILA Halafihi admitted he had to be “selfish” by choosing to leave his beloved Bradford Bulls.

The lifelong fan turned down the chance to stay at Odsal after four seasons with the club.

Hooker Halafihi felt he needed to look elsewhere for regular rugby because he did not want to be stuck on the sidelines when John Kear leads the Bulls back into the Championship.

He said: “I did have interest from Bradford but it’s come to a time in my career when I need to be playing.

“With the players coming in for the Championship and the ones already there, I would be in a similar position to now. I need to be a bit selfish and go look to play.

“I couldn’t speak any higher of John. I think I’ve played well because he’s given me the confidence to do so and a game-plan that suited me and my running from dummy half.

“I’ve had a taste of playing loads of games this year. But I don’t want to go back to being (just) a squad player.”

Halafihi made 17 appearances last term, scoring four tries, but was not involved in the play-offs. Watching the Bulls beat Workington to clinch promotion at Odsal was a “bittersweet” experience for him.

“It’s a nightmare not playing in any league game, never mind the final when you want to be out there doing everyone proud,” he added.

“But I’ve always been a Bradford fan and it meant so much lifting the cup at the end, even though I wasn’t in my playing kit.

“I know I was part of a team that is hopefully going to be the rebirth of the Bradford Bulls.”

Halafihi looks back with pride on his time at Odsal from 2015, when he arrived from Leeds academy and made his debut in a campaign that would end in the Million Pound Game.

He added: “That feeling of walking out in front of the Bulls fans for the first time is something I’ll never forget.

“It was the club I’d dreamed of playing for and with my dad there, who’d been with me every step of the way, it was huge.”

Halafihi experienced the “other side” the following year when he went on loan to Swinton before returning just as the club went into administration.

“That was just my luck because I’d probably had my best pre-season and then we lost Rohan Smith.

“But in comes Geoff Toovey, a very crazy character. He played me in six different positions – I only played one game at hooker and that was when I scored my first try after so long.”

That try at Halifax – the first of eight for the club - remains the pinnacle of his Bulls career.

“Everyone not playing thinks they should be in the team and I had that for a long time. Time on the sidelines can send you crazy.

“It was an outpouring of emotion, a bit of a scream and clenched fist. The fans could really tell how much the club meant to me.”

Halafihi started last season’s opening-day thriller at York – but George Flanagan’s arrival from Hunslet immediately curtailed his chances once more.

But he can appreciate what Flanagan brought to the team and the pair remain close friends – as he is with others who have kept him out of the team.

Halafihi said: “It wasn’t a kick in the teeth because I could see where John was coming from. We didn’t really have experience in the hooking role.

“It’s weird. You feel a bit peeved off that you might not be playing but it’s never been the case with me.

“Adam O’Brien ultimately taught me so much about a role I didn’t really have a clue about and set me up for a career in rugby.

“Then when Scott Moore signed, I knew I didn’t have a chance but ended up playing centre all season.

“I know a lot has been reported about him but I couldn’t speak any more highly of Scott. He’s one of the best I’ve met in the sport.

“Maybe it’s rugby in general but you don’t meet too many bad guys.”