JOHN Kear wants the Bulls to be defensive kingpins.

The veteran coach, who admits he has got itchy feet as he waits for his players to return from their Christmas and New Year break, admitted that their commitment to defensive strategy was the best thing about their 22-6 victory against Halifax at Odsal on Boxing Day.

He said: "We want to be a team that are difficult to score against and which enjoys defending, and we slipped up early on after giving a penalty away and Halifax scored on the next set, but after that it was a clean sheet for us.

"We defended really well on the back of looking after the ball in tricky conditions."

Kear hasn't had too much time to work with his players since being appointed in the middle of the month, and the weather hasn't helped either, but his first priority has been sorting out what happens when the Bulls haven't got the ball.

He was most pleased with "defence and the attitudinal side of things" in the Halifax match.

He said: "The commitment to each other was marvellous, and there are lots and lots to build upon.

"It wasn't the prettiest game, but I don't think you will get the prettiest game in conditions like that, and it was a derby and Halifax sent a very committed side.

"It was a pleasing afternoon at the office.

"Nine of our players were on debut, and some of them showed up very well indeed.

"It makes you get itchy feet to get back in among them and help them as individuals and as a team."

The Bulls' next friendly is at home to Sheffield Eagles on Sunday, January 14 (3pm).