LEIGH Beattie reckons the hard toil of an army training camp will sharpen up the Bulls' next generation for battle.

Beattie’s under-19s squad have just returned from the Catterick barracks where they were put through a three-day training camp.

The intense getaway included leadership lectures as well as physical work. They also played a game against the army rugby league team.

Beattie said: “This was a great opportunity for getting the lads together ahead of pre-season and doing something a little bit different.

“It is a different voice but a lot of what they learnt is what we have spent the last year or so instilling into them, not only as players but people too.

“There was a lot of leadership work to begin with and then we stepped it up a notch in terms of the physicality.”

Matty Storton’s presence in the senior ranks for the play-off promotion run-in was the latest feather in the cap for the Odsal production line.

The young forward’s emergence follows that of Rowan Milnes, who made his senior debut earlier in the season.

John Kear will continue to keep close tabs on the work of his academy staff and Beattie believes the toughening-up camp in north Yorkshire was the ideal way to get the latest under-19 squad up and running.

He added: “They are a fit bunch of lads but they were up against some big challenges. It put a whole different dynamic on what we are trying to achieve.

“I wanted to see who would step up and be the leader when the going got tough. It was good to see some of the new lads being integrated into the group.

“The competitive nature of the squad was obvious. That competitive edge will bode well for us next season as they are all fighting against each other for a jersey.”