BRADFORD Bulls veteran George Flanagan may only have another year or two of playing left in the tank, and he has already got one eye on a coaching career.

The hooker is 35 now, and tends to be used as an impact player off the bench these days.

While he still has plenty to offer in that regard, he knows his time on the pitch is coming to an end.

But the cheerful Bradfordian said: “If you speak to anyone, they’ll tell you I’m a rugby league geek.

“I always go to training or games, even when I’m not available, and now I get to watch my young lad play. His pre-season got underway again last week.

“When the time comes to hang up my boots, it’s going to be tough, but I would like to stay involved in the game.

“I’d love to help kids come through, as we want them to be part of the game in future.”

Flanagan still has a job to do on the pitch for now, with John Kear already admitting that he wants his Bulls side to be “contenders” for promotion to Super League in 2022.

As for whether helping Bulls to glory in the Million Pound Game next year would be the perfect swansong, the hooker mused: “I’d have to decide in the moment whether I wanted to play in Super League with Bradford or stop after promotion.

“This season will be a tough and gruelling one anyway, and I’ve never actually played in Super League before.

“I have played against Super League sides though, and the speed of the game at that level is what’s really tough, as the Championship is also very physical.

“If I got that chance in the top-flight with Bradford, I’d have to weigh up my options.

“It’s not a long career, but at the same time, I’ve got a decent job outside of rugby league and a decent pension, as well as my family to think about.”

Asked if he thinks the Championship will be more competitive in 2022 with Toulouse now up in Super League, Flanagan said: “They and Featherstone ran away with it last season really.

“But look at the recruitment from so many of the teams in the off-season, there are Super League quality players who are wanting to give it a go in the Championship.

“We’ve got a fantastic division here and we (Bulls) see it as an opportunity to be a big part of that.

“We don’t want to think too far ahead, as promotion will be a tough ask, so we just have to take it week by week.

“You’ve got the likes of ourselves, Featherstone, Halifax, Leigh and Widnes all battling it out next year, which is fantastic, and I can’t wait to see how the season shapes up.”