Six months ago Toa Kohe-Love's club coach, Hull's Shaun McRae, publicly questioned whether the prolific try-scoring centre had a future in the game.

McRae described Kohe-Love's recurrent shoulder problem as a "career thing".

Recent reports coming out of Hull have incorrectly listed Kohe-Love's age as 29, an error he attributes to a case of "sour grapes" over his departure to Bradford. The implication is clear. Kohe-Love is not only injury-ravaged, he's over the hill. Washed up.

Last month, the New Zealand-born Kohe-Love, who topped the try-scoring charts in Super League V, celebrated his 27th birthday. He did so with a three-year deal at the Bulls safely tucked away and the knowledge that next year he'll be lining up alongside Kiwi internationals Robbie Paul, Lesley Vainikolo, Joe Vagana and Logan Swann.

And, with the Tri-Nations set to be held in Britain over the next three years, he'll be in the best position he's ever been in to fulfil his dream of playing for his country.

Not bad for a bloke who's washed up.

"I think it is just a bit of luck that everything has fallen this way" said Kohe-Love.

"I am over the moon about it. Brian Noble has shown a lot of faith in signing me for that long. I am looking forward to it.

"The stage is set for me now. I've just got to go out and do it.

"Bradford are the best club. They proved that this year with winning the Challenge Cup and the league and I hope I can be a part of that next year.

"It has always been part of my plans to make the Kiwis, even if it was just for a Test. I think by coming to Bradford I've given myself a good chance. It's the kind of team that selectors look at."

Following a 1995 tour of Britain by the Junior Kiwis, an 18-year-old Kohe-Love was snapped up by Warrington for the 1996 season. He spent six years at Wilderspool and then two at Hull - the city where his mother was born and raised.

Kohe-Love describes his last-minute decision to reject Bradford in favour of Hull as the worst he's ever made and he's relieved to have finally joined the treble-winning champions. "The expectations are definitely a lot higher here than where I have been but I think I'll fit in all right. I'm not bothered about the pressure. I put the pressure on myself to perform. I'm just looking forward to the challenge."

His signing takes the number of high-profile Kiwis at the club to seven but, much like Robbie Paul and Tevita Vaikona, Kohe-Love is very much a product of the Super League system.

"There has been a bit of talk about having too many Kiwis here, but the ones that are here are stars, so you can't really complain about it. I'm looking forward to being among all those giants."

Kohe-Love was among the first wave of players to turn out for pre-season training and his rehabilitation work following shoulder surgery is progressing well.

"It's coming along all right. I had an operation on the same shoulder about seven years ago and I had no problems with it up until now, so hopefully this one will get me through the next three or four years."