EPALAHAME Lauaki has told Bulls fans: You will see the best of me this season!

It is fair to say the former New Zealand Warriors, Hull FC and Wigan prop’s first year at Odsal was underwhelming.

The gripe from supporters who paid their hard-earned cash to follow the team was not so much about what Lauaki did on the field – but more about the time he spent on it.

The established pattern for Jimmy Lowes’ side in 2015 was for Paul Clough and Adam Sidlow to start the match with Steve Crossley and Lauaki coming off the bench.

Lauaki tended to come on around ten minutes before half-time and then be withdrawn shortly after the restart.

That meant men such as Clough and Sidlow had to do longer minutes and there was a nagging feeling that Lauaki was never quite fully fit.

Now, though, he says he is ready to prove his class in his second season as a Bradford player.

The 32-year-old is confident he will reap the benefits of a profitable pre-season which he feels has got him whipped into shape.

Lauaki made a slow start to his Bradford career after piling on the pounds during the off-season as visa problems delayed his arrival in the UK.

His lack of fitness meant he was not considered for the opening two games of the season after joining up with Lowes’ squad in early February.

But he featured regularly off the bench since making his debut in the win at Featherstone on March 1 and is determined to become a mainstay of the team again.

Lauaki said: “I’m definitely up for the new season. Yes, I’m excited about it because I’ve had a full pre-season behind me.

“I haven’t had a proper pre-season in the last three or four years, so I’m excited about the challenge ahead after all the hard work I’ve put in these past few weeks.

“I’ve probably lost about seven kilogrammes since last season, so it has been a big transformation for me.

“I’ve done a lot of running and just tried to stay on top of the weight sessions, which helps.

“Last year I came into the club after a bit of time off and I was a bit rusty and on the wrong end of the scales.

“But I knew what I could do and I think the fans know what I can do.

“It’s just a matter of me getting my running back and being more aggressive.

“I think going away from my aggressiveness was what the fans were most upset about. But I can hopefully bring that this year.”

Lauaki does not believe that he must necessarily play big minutes to prove his worth to the team.

For him it is more about making his presence felt during his time on the field.

He explained: “For me personally it’s just achieving my goals in training and whatever minutes I get, it’s just about working hard for the team.

“Even it’s just ten or fifteen minutes, I have to make sure it’s the best ten or fifteen minutes I can give.”

Lauaki faces a stiff challenge to stay in Lowes’ top seventeen following the arrival of Mitch Clark, Ben Kavanagh and Jonathan Walker.

But he added: “Last year we fell short in that department and it’s good that we now have more guys pushing for that same spot.

“I know it’s going to be hard to get into the seventeen every week but it’s good to have competition because it keeps you honest with each other and pushing each other to do the best you can.”

Lauaki is out of contract at the end of the season but his family are happily settled in Bradford.

When he hangs up his boots, Lauaki wants to return to his homeland and help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.

He might train to become a youth worker or even a police officer.

Born in Tonga and raised in New Zealand, Lauaki added: “My wife and kids are happy here and I can’t wait for the season to start now.”