Hallas eyes York pick-me-up for Bradford Bulls

Their three-game winning run came to a frustrating end with Sunday’s 34-34 draw with Swinton.

That keeps them still a point adrift of the top five ahead of the visit to the second-placed Knights.

This weekend will be a huge test for their play-off ambitions and Hallas is adamant they can head for Bootham Crescent in confident mood.

He said: “We won’t dwell on last week. We’ll get back on the horse because we’ve got a big game against York.

“We want to come out on top in that one.

“We never throw in the towel. There are definitely areas we should have been smarter in but it’s all a learning curve.

“We’re going to come up against a lot of quality teams and players and if we go around with our bottom lip out and moping everywhere we’re not going to get anywhere.

“We’ve got to hold our heads high and stand proud. Be honest with ourselves and learn from it – that’s the only way we’re going to get better as a team.”

The Bulls won a thriller at York on the opening day of last season but James Ford’s side have beaten them twice since at Odsal.

Hallas has been hugely impressed by how well the Knights have gone since winning League One.

“James Ford and his team have to be applauded,” he added. “They are second in the league and doing incredibly well.

“They are a really good side and what they’ve done this year is incredible.

“It’s a tough place to go. The fans are on top of you and it’s a small field.

“We’ve got to go there and know we have to be focused.

“We have to do all the little things right. Do that and it will give us the best chance of coming away with the win.

“If we can give a good account of ourselves, fair enough, but ultimately we need those two points.

“We’re a very young team and we’re still learning the game. We’re definitely on the up and going really well.

“I can’t fault the efforts of the lads. Every week we’re putting in everything in training and in the games but sometimes you come up short, that’s just sport.”