SAM Hallas has warned Featherstone can expect a very different Bulls team from the one well beaten there in the Challenge Cup.

John Kear’s side head for the Millennium Stadium and their toughest date in the Championship schedule so far with confidence soaring after seven straight wins.

The clash with unbeaten Fev is a real yardstick for the Bulls’ progress – and how far they have come since a hefty 41-16 defeat in the opening game of the season.

Hallas, who broke his jaw that day, insists nothing should be read into that cup defeat in March which marked both sides’ return to rugby after a year out.

“I think we’re a completely different team from back then,” he said.

“We’ve matured a lot with certain players and come together more as a team.

“There’s much more of a team feel around Tong as well in the week so we’re full of confidence.

“That Challenge Cup game feels ages ago. My jaw has healed in that time, so it’s been a while.

“We’ve got a good bit of momentum now with seven wins out of seven. Fev are up there flying and haven’t been beaten this season, so it’s going to be a real test to see where we’re at as a group.

“We’re in strong form and if we can continue that against them then the sky’s the limit for us.”

I’ve been pecking John’s ear all the time to be playing. I wanted to go back on against Fev when I did my jaw!

Hallas is just thrilled to be back in the mix after successfully negotiating his return from three months out against Newcastle at Odsal last week.

For a bubbly character who relishes nothing more than being in the thick of battle, it had been a tough period having to watch from the outside.

He added: “You probably don’t realise how much it affects you off the field. You are isolated at training and then you go home, you don’t realise how down you are.

“For the first three or four weeks I was just eating soup, training on my own and not being able to do much. It was a bit of a pain.

“Credit to my friends and family who have kept me going.

“But the boys have always tried to keep me involved and that’s what is special about this group.

“You go into training and although you’re isolated when you’re doing your work, as soon as you walk into that changing room all the lads are around you.

“It’s a real good environment to be in and you never really feel like you are on your own.”

Spirits are understandably high given the hot streak of results but the vice-captain admitted that had also created extra pressure for his comeback.

“We were joking during the week that if I come in and we start losing, then I’ll be straight back out the team!

“I’m glad we got a good tough win, you don’t want to let the other players down.

“But coming into a winning team full of confidence is a bit more pressure than if you’re on a bad run because you don’t want to ruin it. You want to keep those wins coming.

“I’ve been pecking John’s ear all the time to be playing. I wanted to go back on against Fev when I did my jaw!

“I think he’s been sick of me knocking on his door.

“I was obviously a bit nervous going back in and wondering how my jaw would fare with the first shot of contact.

“I got a clout early on and my teeth felt a bit funny but I was sound as a pound.

“I just wanted a hard shot early on around the face to test it out so that was ideal. Then you can just crack on with the game.

“I was a bit rusty and off the pace at some points. I’ve got a bit to do but I had to do all the little stuff and hopefully all the boys appreciated it.”

Hallas knows the Bulls must step up a gear at Fev after “shooting themselves in the foot” during a stodgy first-half display in the Thunder game.

“We’ve got to be a lot better against Fev,” he said. “They would have punished us a bit more if we dish up what we did in the first half.

We were joking during the week that if I come in and we start losing, then I’ll be straight back out the team!

“But we went back to what works for us in the second, kept it really simple and played the percentages. We looked after the ball a lot more.

“This is a good marker for us. We can go out there and play without fear.

“The training wheels are off and we can just rip into them and see what happens.

“The confidence and self-belief is high within the group.

"Everything is heading in the right direction. It’s up to us as a playing and coaching staff to keep it going.”