With Friday's Grand Final rematch at Odsal looming it was back to work as usual today for the Bulls.

Coach Brian Noble won't be too fazed if some of the side are still suffering from World Club Challenge hangovers after instructing them to celebrate all they like over the weekend.

And Noble himself was yesterday celebrating his birthday as well as the victory over Penrith.

"I've made some mistakes in the past and I'm big enough to put my hand up," he said.

"We have not celebrated at times when we should have. When we won the Minor Premiership last year I had them in the day after looking at the tape and doing this, that and the other and then we were beaten by Castleford the next week. I've learned that you've got to let them go and get it out of their system. They deserve it. But it's work as usual today. Wigan will come and embarrass us on Friday if we don't."

Noble and his coaching staff were always confident they could exploit weaknesses in Penrith's game, despite being written off in many corners before the match.

"We looked at footage of them and we thought we could trouble them and it transpired that way. The players deserve all the credit. They deserve the tag of world champions because they have beaten a very, very good team."

Noble was particularly delighted with the way Mick Withers celebrated his return to form with a man-of-the-match display.

"A lot of things have been said about Michael, what he is and what he isn't, but he's the first name you pencil into your team sheet if he's fit. He's had two years of disruption and heartache but I've never once lost faith in him and he's never lost faith in us."

Grand Final man-of-the-match Stuart Reardon had to make way for Withers but Noble has assured the young full back he has a great future ahead of him.

"Stuart Reardon didn't deserve to be out of the 17. He knows that we have a team ethic at Bradford but if you were to ask me who is the best full back at the club, it's Michael Withers.

"Stuart has got a huge future at Bradford and he shouldn't be distracted by the fact that he didn't play at full back. His time is coming."

It's still too early to tell just how good the Bulls of 2004 will be but Noble is certain of one thing: "I know that they have the desire to do well again. That is the most important thing."