Wildcard Joe Hawley is playing for nothing at the Bulls but admits: I'd be crazy not to.

The highly-rated young hooker arrived from Hunslet Hawks during the winter with the view of trying to impress in their Senior Academy.

But after just a few training

sessions, the bricklayer earned a dream shot and was thrust into the Bulls line-up for friendlies with Warrington and Dewsbury.

He may only be part-time and receiving no money but the 20-year-old feels it has justified his decision to ignore a first-team

contract offer at Dewsbury.

"If Bradford come and offer you any opportunity I think you're

stupid to turn it down," Hawley insisted.

"If I'd have not taken it and gone somewhere else for some money I'd always feel 'What would have been?'

"I want to test myself and see if I can play at a higher level. Hopefully if I have a good year, the Bulls may offer me something later."

The player shone in LHF Healthplan National League Two and was tipped by Hawks boss Roy Sampson as potential Super League material.

But last season he fell out of favour, with former Castleford man Jermaine Wray bagging the nine jersey, and Hawley suffered a year in the doldrums.

"I wasn't getting that excitement anymore," he recalled.

"I found myself getting more

frustrated, less motivated and I needed a kick up the backside. I've got that at Bradford.

"I'm enjoying my rugby again and it's been great playing and training with better players."

With Terry Newton and Ian Henderson around, Hawley knows it will be back to the Academy soon. But he is one step closer to his Super League dream.