EVAN Hodgson believes his game can kick on for the Bulls by trying to be more like James Bentley.

Bentley was the stand-out performer in the troubled Championship campaign to earn a Super League move to St Helens.

The second row and centre scored 18 tries in 27 appearances in a memorable breakthrough season, which ended with him lifting the league's young player of the year title.

Now Hodgson, crowned the Bulls' top player at under-19 level, is aiming to follow in Bentley's footsteps in 2018.

The 19-year-old had a taste of it last term and is ready to take the next step in League One.

Hodgson, who recently penned a three-year deal at Odsal, said: "Bentley is a really good ball handler and we played off him a lot. I try and replicate that on the other side of the field.

"I feel my game has progressed a lot. When I first started, I was playing in the middle at 13 or prop and in the back row a few times.

"I've picked up more on the ball-handling side of the game. Geoff (Toovey) encourages that.

"Vila (Halafihi) is a natural hooker, so teams have come down our side more and targeted that edge. But we're constantly grafting down that side."

With the squad ready to begin the pre-season fitness schedule, Hodgson admitted he has learned a lot about himself from being thrown in.

"I learned a lot more than I thought I would have done," he said.

"I was only in the second year of the academy so (playing in the) first team wasn't really an option. It was more of a dream, rather than something achievable.

"But by getting the chance I learned what I want to do and what it's like training full time. I want to be playing week in, week out in the first team."