England Academy coach Stuart Wilkinson is picking Bulls young guns Brett Ferres Karl Pryce, Paul Clarke and Matthew Cook to make big strides in Super League and at international level.

Following two years of wins over Australian opponents for British youngsters, Wilkinson believes the RFL's development plans are beginning to bear fruit,

The Bradford quartet starred as Wilkinson's Under-17 side took on the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in two games, winning 28-22 and 34-14 - with Pryce scoring three tries over the series.

The games followed England Under-18s' first ever wins against the Australian Schoolboys a year ago, with 12 players from that team going on to play in Super League VIII.

Wilkinson is tipping many of his squad to follow suit. A production line of British talent has been firmly established, he said.

"I think we have proved now that we can work just as hard as they can, and we have improved our performance and taken the players to another level.

"None of last year's England Academy team played in these two matches, so we have produced the next generation of players and that tells you that we are producing talent."

The performances against the AIS puts the majority of that squad in line for selection for the England Academy's tour of New Zealand and Australia next year.

Wilkinson knows how important the belief they have gained from the two wins will prove.

"My goal was to get 80 per cent of them on the plane," he said.

"I think they have probably done enough to put a seed in somebody's mind.

"Long-term, if they can play some Super League next year I will be very happy."

Bulls academy coach Phil Veivers agrees the club has plenty of fine prospects, although with so much talent in the first team squad, he admits they have their work cut out breaking into the big time.

"That's the whole process of the Bradford Bulls," said Veivers.

"We want the superstars of tomorrow so we've got kids here who we are hoping will eventually force their way in. It becomes a time issue. We've got kids that have been here four years who we think need to progress a little bit further to be first-teamers. It is a long haul for some of them but if they are willing to stay the course, it's there for them."

Most of the Bulls prospects eventually make it through to the top grade, he said.

"There's not many that we get rid of. At the end of the day when we sign players they are the best kids in the region. The expectation from the staff is for these kids to press on."

Bulls chairman Chris Caisley says provision has been made for the first-team squad to incorporate the best young players.

"We are now looking ahead to 2005. We have one or two young kids who are going to be knocking on the door. It's all very healthy as far as competition for places is concerned.

"What we need to do is make sure that we always keep evolving. This year we've lost five players and we've signed three, so the balance is on the right side in terms of being able to bring players through.

"At the end of the day the cream always rises to the top and if players are good enough then they'll force their way in, to the exclusion of more established players. It's up to them to show over the next 12 to 18 months that they are good enough to deserve and demand that place."