The Bulls have stepped up their preparations for next month's Carnegie World Club Challenge with the surprise signing of Marcus St Hilaire from Halifax.

As Wests Tigers loom large on the horizon, and with the Super League season kicking off soon after, boss Brian Noble snapped up the former England full back/winger to bolster the champions' options.

It was thought the Bulls had already completed their recruitment for 2006 but Noble said: "I was a bit concerned about covering our outside backs and this was an opportunity for both ourselves and Marcus.

"We've managed to recruit a player with over 200 Super League games under his belt and that experience adds more balance to the squad.

"He's taken a punt on himself and we've taken a punt on him but Marcus has had some good games against us over the years and at 28 he's certainly not past his sell-by date."

St Hilaire was released by Huddersfield Giants at the end of last season and had recently penned a deal with LHF Healthplan National League One side Halifax.

But after just one friendly appearance, a desire to continue in the top flight

saw the pacy former Leeds Rhinos star clinch a move to Odsal, where he will

bid to force his way into the first-team reckoning.

He has jetted out to Lanzarote to join his new team-mates at their training camp and is now hoping for a quick return to his old stomping ground in the World Club Challenge at the Galpharm Stadium on February 3.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to prove I'm still a Super League player and there's no better place to do it than at the current Super League champions," said St Hilaire, a former team-mate of fellow new Bulls signing Stanley Gene and assistant coach Steve McNamara at Huddersfield.

The player has agreed a one-year deal but will not form part of the Bulls' 20/20 register.

Noble, who has seen outside backs Leon Pryce, Stuart Reardon and Karl Pratt all leave this winter, said: "Marcus really wanted to play Super League and when he went to Halifax he was given the opportunity to get out of that contract if something like this came up.

"Over the last few weeks we've been looking at where we could be weak or strong.

"When you look at the World Club Challenge, Super League and the Challenge Cup, everything comes at once and if you pick up any injuries, it's important you stay strong.

"We've a lot of young kids coming through as well - Nicky Saxton needs to grow and become part of the squad this season.

"But there's competition now and whether Nicky Saxton or Marcus St Hilaire gets a shot, they'll make that decision, not me."