Steve McNamara is expecting big things of Nick Scruton next season.

Bradford Bulls’ head coach called the prop’s form “outstanding” in the second half of the 2009 campaign.

McNamara added: “Nick had to switch from being a third or fourth-choice prop with Leeds in 2008 to having to deal with being a first or second-choice prop with us.

“Also he missed a lot of the last pre-season with the wrist injury that he suffered while playing for the Rhinos in the 2008 Grand Final.”

Scruton, named Forward of the Year last week for the Bulls, only figured in their final pre-season match of 2009 against Whitehaven, having not played for the previous four months. And McNamara said: “I am looking forward to seeing what Nick can do with a full pre-season behind him.”

The 24-year-old Scruton called joining the Bulls “the best move of my life”, and has admitted: “It doesn’t get much better really”.

While some might have found the switch from the Rhinos to their great rivals daunting, the likable Scruton admitted: “It was not that difficult because I have a lot of friends at Bradford.”

As for missing out on the play-offs, he said: “It wasn’t the end to the season that we had hoped for but it was the best campaign I have ever had, and to be an ever-present just added to it.”

The Bulls’ senior side and the reserve grade might have missed out on the play-offs and the Grand Final respectively but there is still hope for the Academy side after a remarkable game at The Jungle.

They scored 24 unanswered points in the final nine minutes at Castleford Tigers on Saturday to overturn a 36-16 deficit and go through to this Saturday’s final eliminator against Wigan Warriors at The Co-operative Community Stadium (Edge Hall Road, Orrell).

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats wait in the Grand Final.