ANTHONY Walker continues to improve at prop for Bulls, but dismissed suggestions that his 'Super League brain' is what gives him the edge over opponents.

He grabbed two assists in the heartbreaking derby defeat at Halifax, sucking in defenders to help free up space for Tom Doyle's try, then producing a clever offload to allow Brad England to cross, and he caused the home defence no end of trouble throughout

Walker has played in Super League for St Helens and Wakefield, and asked whether that gives him an edge in the Championship, he said: "When I finished playing initially (due to a brain condition diagnosed in 2017), I coached for four years.

"I understand more about the game now than when I was playing full-time.

"I was just doing my job back then, but when you flip to the coaching side of it, you realise how important that job is for the people out wide and things like that.

"I was coaching at a decent enough level, where players understood the game at international U19s.

"That's helped me learn my role better than when I was playing Super League.

"Don't get me wrong, that did me no harm, as playing Super League and at a high level for years makes you learn when to play, and when to just complete, whether to take the tackle or force the offload.

"That game management comes with age, experience and coaching all together really."

Bulls tackle Sheffield at Odsal this weekend having suffered a humiliating 50-12 defeat to them on the opening day of the season.

But a confident Walker said: "We're a million miles away from where we were then, but it still gets spoken about.

"We've only lost five games (in the league) all year, so we are miles better than we were then, but we do all want to put in a performance against Sheffield.

"That's for ourselves and the fans. We need to get the win, because we've lost two on the bounce and we can't make it three.

"It's like a Grand Final, just like it will be the week after. We need to cement third or fourth so we can get that home tie in the play-offs."

Halifax was Walker's first competitive start since returning to the game earlier this year and he will be hoping for another one on Sunday at Odsal.

He seems to be getting fitter by the week, and said: "I'm not overly trying to lose much weight, because you need to eat to play.

"Playing more and more minutes is really what gets you fitter rather than just dieting and running around a field.

"I'm not fussed if I start or come off the bench. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to get my first proper start, but I've also enjoyed coming off the bench and running at more tired defences.

"As long as I'm playing and in the 17, I'm happy."

He added: "Every week I'm enjoying playing those few more minutes. I think a lot of the lads now are learning how I play, so they're pushing me a little bit after contact because I get my hands free.

"We're 14 games in now, and a lot of the new lads, and the lads who've been here a couple of years, are learning to play together as a team.

"Hopefully it should click perfectly at play-off time."