BULLS head coach Mark Dunning may be all about the collective at the club this season, but he has ensured every individual has had their share of attention too.

Discussing a personal plan for each member of his squad in pre-season has seemingly paid dividends, with Bradford overcoming injuries to key players and a tough start on paper to sit fourth in the Betfred Championship table ahead of their derby at Keighley Cougars on Sunday.

Dunning told the T&A: "We've got a lengthy injury list, and will be missing Jack Walker and Bodene Thompson for the next few weeks, Michael Lawrence for a little longer than that, and Brad England and Masi Matongo fairly long-term.

"But that's rugby league, and there'll be other teams in the same position.

"The fact we've done pretty well despite missing those players is down to us being connected as a squad.

"All the players know why they're here and everyone knows their role.

"I sat down with every individual in pre-season and set goals for them all, so it's all crystal clear for them what I'm wanting.

"It's then about fitting those goals into the goals of the group as a whole."

Bulls are set to make use of their dual-registration link with Leeds once again for Sunday's derby at Cougar Park, after young Rhinos trio Leon Ruan, Liam Tindall and Corey Johnson all featured in the win over Sheffield at Odsal last week.

It was the former's first game in Bulls colours, with Dunning saying: "I thought Leon did okay.

"He was solid defensively and though he made a couple of errors, we’ll forgive him that as it was his first game of Championship rugby league. His game will only get better the more he plays at this level.

“I was delighted to have Corey back, as he’s a great lad and someone I enjoy coaching.

“With the situation at Leeds (star hooker Kruise Leeming departing the club), Corey’s likely to be needed by them going forward and we wish him well with that.

“We were really pleased with Liam’s performance once again last Sunday too.”

With Ben Blackmore in contention to play after a minor knee injury, it could well be a fight between himself and David Foggin-Johnston to line up on the opposite wing to Tindall at Keighley, assuming the young Leeds star returns to Bulls this weekend.