Bradford Bulls are in talks with World Club champions Melbourne Storm over a link-up which they hope will help close the gap on the Australian game.

Bulls chairman Chris Caisley has revealed he had positive discussions with Storm managing director John Ribot at Saturday's stunning victory over Saints at Wigan and he will visit Australia in the spring to firm up the agreement.

Caisley is particularly keen to give some of the Bulls young talent the chance to visit Australia to benefit from their highly-productive coaching system and rugby league culture.

"Work permit restrictions here make it difficult for young Aussie players to come over but we saw what benefit Jamie Peacock gained from a year over there," said Caisley.

"It is something we would like to expand and there are a whole range of other areas including marketing where we feel a link-up between the clubs could be mutually beneficial."

Caisley admits that the defeat of Saints was a setback but remains upbeat ahead of the new British Super League season which begins in March.

"We really can't do much to stop the Australian game improving," he said.

"We can't ask them to stand still for five years while we catch up.

"But if you look at Super League in 1996 and compare it with what we have now anyone can see we have made rapid strides.

"We are now producing some top quality young players. We won't know how good they can become until they are playing in a highly competitive league which gets them used to play at a consistently high level.

"People have to remember the Australians have had 20 years start on us in terms of professionalism.

"We have had five years at it and I think the upward trend is there for all to see.

"But it is not just in rugby league where we are struggling to compete with the southern hemisphere sides.

"In many ways sport is paying the price for the policy of successive governments to take the competitive element out of school sport and it is something which needs tackling urgently."

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