JOHN Kear hopes more clubs will follow suit after the Bulls reintroduced a reserve team for this year.

The Odsal coach thinks there are major benefits from running an extra side and believes it is important for the growth of rugby league.

Wigan, Halifax, Leigh, Keighley and Wakefield are currently in the competition. St Helens have also been added to the fixture list but will only feature in occasional games.

Kear said: "I don't think we did ourselves any favours as a game by disbanding the reserves. It was short-sighted.

"Having the reserve grade, along with the dual-reg (agreement with Toronto), the 19s, the 16s, the scholarship and straight away you've got a development pathway for local talented players.

"You've also got the opportunity to bring people in. We aren't a big enough game to discard players. They've got to have somewhere to play.

"We've got to be a game that's inclusive and develops players. We're looking after our own backyard and ensuring that we can do that."

The vast majority of Super League coaches want to see a fully-functioning reserve grade back in force again as soon as possible.

Bulls co-owner Andrew Chalmers insists reinstating the team will stop promising young players falling through the gap between age-group and senior rugby.

"We see the need to have something that is organised for players not playing in the first team or the 19s," said Chalmers.

"Look at the lads who were on display against Dewsbury recently. Players coming through of that quality get lost because we're not able to adequately accommodate them. You've got to balance costs in terms of all your objectives.

"Players don't develop by playing Playstation or watching videos. They've got to be practising their wares and having opportunities to do things. These players are investments."

Brian Noble was a major exponent of the reserves during his successful reign with the Bulls.

Toronto's head of rugby can see the benefits for introducing his own club's players – but also feels it will open the door to local amateur talent.

"If we want this game to be sexy again and give kids the opportunity, you've got to show them a career path that they can go through," said Noble.

"I remember 2,000-3,000 down at Odsal watching our reserve grade because of the players that were playing.

"You can also complement those with a couple on trial from West Bowling, Dudley Hill or Queensbury. Giving the opportunity to local amateur players is massively important to me.

"It's not reinventing the wheel. It's a no-brainer for the game. We've got to get ourselves in a position where every team should run a reserve grade."

The Bulls kick off their reserves fixtures at home to Halifax on March 3.