GEOFF Toovey hopes the latest influx of older heads will not be too late to save the Bulls' young breed.

The blossoming talent from the club's academy has been the one bright light of their testing Championship campaign.

Scrum half Reiss Butterworth was the latest teenager to be thrown in the deep end as circumstances dictate with team selection.

But Toovey admits the youngsters need the know-how of more battle-scarred team-mates to show them the ropes.

Yesterday's arrival of Aussie forward Damian Sironen will help in that department as they prepare to face league leaders Hull KR.

Former Super League centre Ashley Gibson made his debut in Sunday's loss at Halifax after signing from Wakefield and there could be further movement in the coming days.

Toovey said: "I think things are starting to turn. A lot of the young blokes are getting recognised and probably trying to get poached by other clubs for next year.

"We'll do our best to improve and hopefully keep them at the Bradford club. That's why we'll bring in some experience the next few weeks to help them along. I hope it won't be too little too late.

"They are getting valuable experience as it is, just being left out there by themselves and experiencing the game against hardened, mature opposition.

"But if they had a few more mature and experienced blokes in the side, I think they'll learn a lot quicker."

Sironen, who has been playing in the second tier Down Under, was pushed in the Bulls' direction by Hull KR coach Tim Sheens after he decided against taking the 24-year-old. Ironically, his English debut is likely to be against Sheens' table-toppers at Odsal.

Toovey is confident he can add a "successful vibe" to a squad who have lost ten of their last 11 outings.

Yet through the adversity, the Bulls coach has seen the previously-untried rookies progress and believes they will be stronger players for it.

Toovey said: "You can only get it by playing. While experienced players can help you to get there, it's up to you to experience it first hand.

"That's what we've done with probably four or five of the under-19s. It's been under duress because we've had to – but they'll be better for it for the 19s competition and for next year going forward as well.

"The old saying is 'give me a boy until they are ten and I'll show you the man'. It's very difficult to change people's personas. You can develop and enhance it but you can't manufacture it, so to speak.

"All players at this level have that tenacity and toughness but that degree of personality you need to make it to the next stage is something that's hard to coach.

"But I think we are getting there. The more they play at this level against those tougher opponents, the more they develop that skill."