Bradford Bulls second row Zac Fulton insists confidence is coursing through the veins of the squad after their impressive 38-12 win at Swinton Lions in the Betfred Championship last weekend.

And the bullish Australian insists they feel ready now to “knock Wakefield off their perch” in this Sunday’s mouthwatering 1895 Cup semi-final at Odsal.

The winner will take their place in the showpiece at Wembley, and remarkably given the standing the two sides have in the game, Bradford have not played there since losing the 1997 Challenge Cup final to St Helens, while Trinity’s last match at the famous old stadium came way back in 1979.

Fulton is confident Bulls can extend Wakefield’s long absence, saying after the Swinton win: “We’ve just got to step up again, because Wakefield are probably the benchmark in this competition.

“But I think we’re ready to knock them off their perch.

“We want to get to this final of the 1895 Cup.”

Fulton admitted last weekend’s comprehensive win in Greater Manchester was a vital one heading into that cup semi-final.

After the victory, he said: “The last two weeks weren’t the best, we know that.

“We had a harsh review last week, because we should have won the Widnes game, but we had a few troops back to face Swinton here.

“This was a very big game for us, given we’re 80 minutes away from Wembley, so we needed to go into that Wakefield cup semi-final with a win.”

It was Fulton that kicked things off last weekend, taking a great line to latch on to Jordan Lilley’s short ball and burst through for Bulls’ opening score.

He said: “It was just one of those things, you push up and you score tries, so it was good.

“Obviously it wasn’t all me, the team was outstanding. We demolished them through the middle.

“Dan Okoro and Keven Appo scored tries as a result of that and I just felt we were on top for the whole game.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Dan Okoro dives over to give Bulls the perfect start to the second half last Sunday at Swinton.Dan Okoro dives over to give Bulls the perfect start to the second half last Sunday at Swinton. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Appo is a second rower like Fulton, while the likes of Chester Butler and Joe Arundel also offer stern competition for the Aussie in that position.

It leaves a selection headache for Eamon ‘Freddy’ O’Carroll when all of those players are fit, with Fulton saying: “You’ve got to put your best foot forward every week.

“You’re only as good as your last game, and Freddy’s done a good job making us work for our spots.

“We know if we keep playing well, like we did today, everybody will retain their position.”

That fairness in selection will only help the harmony in a tight-knit Bulls squad, with Fulton enjoying the company of friends, old and new.

He said: “I’ve known Tyran (Ott) for a long time and Mitch (Souter) and Reebs (Eribe Doro) have been really welcoming, bringing me over for dinner and things like that.

“This club’s very good, everyone’s tight-knit, there aren’t any cliques, so it’s been really great to get along with everyone.”