Bradford Bulls are ready to offload more of their fringe squad in a package-loan deal with Super League newcomers Wakefield Trinity.

Backs Jon Scales, Kevin Crouthers, and Andy Hodgson plus former Great Britain second-row forward Sonny Nickle have all been the subject of an enquiry from the Belle Vue club.

Club spokesman Stuart Duffy admitted: "Given a reasonable run with injuries those players would be unlikely to figure much and in the light of Wakefield's approach we feel obliged to give them this chance of regular Super League rugby.

"Subject to their agreement a deal could be on the cards. Talks are still on-going."

Following extensive recruiting in recent months the Bulls are also keen to reduce their wage bill to meet salary cap requirements.

Scales is out of contract later this month and has also been talking of a return to rugby union where he began his career with Gosforth.

Croutohers and Hodgson are well down the pecking order and any deal with Trinity would give them the chance of regular first team rugby while allowing the Bulls to monitor their progress.

Nickle missed much of last season with a whiplash injury and it seems could be available for a permanent transfer if the right offer came in.

Trinity are under pressure to build-up a more experienced squad after their First Division Grand Final success.

They began their recruiting last week with the capture of former Bulls scrum-half Glen Tomlinson from Hull and three overseas players - Aussie pair Willie Poching and Shane Kenward from St George and Kiwi prop Frank Watene from Auckland Warriors.

The Bulls hope to have news on who will fill their final quota spot this week with the target believed to be a back-rower from axed NRL pair Gold Coast Chargers or Adelaide Rams.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.