STEVE Crossley is backing “cannonball” Ebon Scurr to keep shooting the Bulls forward this season.

The 20-year-old provided real impetus from the bench in Sunday’s success at Whitehaven – which made it three wins on the bounce for John Kear’s improving side.

Captain Crossley admits he is a big fan of his fearless fellow forward and his dynamic runs.

He said: “I absolutely love Ebon Scurr. He’s a great prospect and he’s only going to get better.

“He’s a young kid who just loves ramping up and getting the team forward. There’s nothing else that goes on in his head.

“Ebon’s a cannonball. He only knows one way – he isn’t going anywhere else.

“He makes great impact when he comes off the bench and gives a lift to those middles still on the field who are getting a little bit tired.

“I love having him alongside me as a fellow middle man and I will give him any tips I can to help him keep improving.”

Both were on the scoresheet at the Recreation Ground – with Crossley going over twice as the Bulls stayed level on points with early Championship leaders Featherstone and Toulouse.

It has been a good response to the worrying start to the year when they leaked 91 points in the Challenge Cup exit at Fev and an opening-day hammering from Sheffield.

Crossley insists he was always confident that the team would turn the corner as they got back into the routine of playing regularly once again.

“Everyone outside the club was panicking but the boys here know how good a team we’ve got,” he added. “We’ve got a close bond.

“That first win against Halifax was a really big one – derby wins are always the best. It was a good way to pick up momentum which is what we’ve been able to do.

“At the start of the season, we were having a week on, week off with the Challenge Cup.

“To have a game every week now is starting to build that bit of routine. It feels normal again.

“We’re used to playing with each other on the field and getting used to the systems.

“It’s a shortened season but there are games week in, week out now so there’s always that to build on.

“We’ve got the likes of Jordan Lilley and Danny Brough linking up well together and also the backline getting us going forward – and the forwards defending everything that comes at us.”

Crossley continues to put in the long shifts after another hour of hard work at Whitehaven. He is happy to keep taking the strain.

He said: “It’s something I’ve done all my career and I’m used to it.

“John sends out the call to ask the middles how they are travelling. Sometimes I feel a bit tired but I like to lie and tell myself I’m not so that I can stay on the field and do my bit for the team.

“It’s just a mental thing for me. I like being out there and doing what I can.

“Sunday was another good win. Cumbria is always a really tough place to go, regardless of who you play.

“An ugly win’s a good win and we’ll take that momentum into the Swinton game and hopefully build on what we’ve done in the last few weeks. It shows we are doing good stuff."