ANYONE who was at the Tetleys Stadium this past weekend will note that this Bulls team will be vastly different from the team that took the field last season. And it needs to be.

Quite frankly, playing at this ground requires it. It’s a tighter, more compact playing surface that lends itself to a power game. If you’re a fan of big hits, and powerful forwards punishing the opposition's defence than this might be your lucky year.

Kudos to Dewsbury for picking up the victory as we adapt to this new style of play, but we will get it right, and we will meet again.

As the build-up to the new campaign rolls on, we learn more about our squad and where we stand. It isn’t only about winning games in the pre-season, it’s about developing the squad so that when we kick off at home to London on February 2, we are in the best position to win that game and the games that come thereafter.

Let’s be clear, with London at home, York away, and Featherstone at home, we open the season against three clubs favoured to be in the top five at the end of the season.

Not an easy start, in fact definitely the toughest of any club in the division.

With that in mind, this weekend’s clash against York at the Tetleys is our last chance to learn what we need to know about this team heading into that key opening round of the season. Will the squad adapt to the tighter pitch? The best way to gauge for yourself would be to head over and support the lads and witness the encounter first hand.

No doubt, the proudest moment of this past week was reserved for our very own Bradford Bulls Women’s captain Amy Hardcastle, who was the only English player named in the International Team of the Decade by the NRL.

I think I can speak for all Bulls staff and fans in wishing a hearty congratulations to Amy for this massive honour.

The women’s game is going from strength to strength and you can view the best of the best in Women’s Super League and the Bradford Bulls side.

Anyone who has seen this year’s lovely first and second strips will notice the letters BBBB on both shirts. To remind everyone, that means BRING THE BULLS BACK TO BRADFORD.

The best way you can help us make this happen is by supporting us wholeheartedly and attending matches while we are down the road in Dewsbury.

The club needs its fans and we will be back in Bradford, but we also need to thrive in the meantime so if you have the ability to, we encourage you to secure your season tickets and support this club. Once a Bull, always a Bull. From Odsal to the Tetleys, we keep the Bulls flag flying high.

Don’t forget to check out our newly renovated official store, still located at Odsal Stadium if you want to look good and flaunt your Bradford pride. Come on you Bulls!