John Bateman has issued a “play me” plea ahead of Sunday’s game against Crusaders.

The teenage back-rower has appeared three times for the Bulls this season and scored his first Super League try at Wigan 12 days ago.

But he acknowledges that the fortnight break between games, caused by last weekend’s Challenge Cup final, has increased the competition for places, with several of his injured team-mates closing on a return.

Bateman said: “It was just good to be on the field at Wigan but to score that try was a great feeling, although I was really just in the right place at the right time.

“I came off the field wanting to go straight back on and show a bit more of what I could do.

“Now, with Chev (Walker) and Tom (Olbison) close to coming back and having played a lot more Super League than me, I just have to get my head down and train even harder.”

The 18-year-old former Bradford Dudley Hill amateur admits becoming a full-time squad member last November drastically chang-ed his lifestyle.

“My general fitness and ball skills have improved a lot,” he said. “At first I was getting home after training and was absolutely exhausted but my body has got used to it now.

“Being full-time has also enabled me to see my little daughter Millie more and play with her in the afternoons.

“Now I’m watching what I eat all the time and get a lot of guidance from people like Geoff (Evans – the Bulls conditioner) and we also get nutritionists come in sometimes.

“I didn’t think it would make any difference at first but it definitely does in the long-term.”

Bateman comes from a family of lifelong Bulls’ fans – mum Bev and dad John are his biggest fans while elder brother Kyle still plays for Dudley Hill.

“My next goal is to become a regular in the first team, although I’m not necessarily bothered whether I start.” he added.

“Sometimes when you come off the bench you have the advantage of being a little bit fresher than those who have been on from the beginning.”