RELAXED John Kear has almost filled his Bulls squad to tackle the Championship in 2019 already.

Jy Hitchcox this week completed his much-anticipated permanent move to Odsal.

With the winger secured for the next two years, that brings the number of new recruits to five – and Kear reckons they may only need two more.

He said: “There’s not much more left to do. We’d been looking for a winger but obviously everybody was aware we wanted Jy to join us.

“We need a centre now and a second rower because James Laithwaite is retiring from the game. That opens up a spot there and that will probably be us done.”

The unlucky Laithwaite suffered a career-ending broken leg against Hunslet mid-season. Out of contract at Toronto, Kear had indicated the door would be left open for a contract offer after the 26-year-old’s impressive efforts.

The Bulls head coach has so far brought in Jake Webster, David Foggin-Johnston and Matty Wildie as well as re-signing former Bradford forward Jon Magrin from Sheffield.

Hooker Wildie’s arrival from Featherstone has filled the gap left after Vila Halafihi rejected the opportunity to stay at Odsal.

Kear can understand why the 24-year-old has opted to move on.

He said: “I had a chat with Vila and we were happy for him to stay.

“But it was a matter of whether he wanted to be one of four, which he would have been at Bradford, vying for two spots or one of two at another club.

“He chose first-team rugby at this stage of his career, he’s in his mid-20s, and I’ve no issue with that.

“His efforts have been absolutely fantastic. He’s a good human being and he’s a very good rugby league player and I wish him well wherever he goes next.”