Matt Cook has rubbished claims he walked out on the Bulls but admits he is frustrated by a lack of action.

A Sunday newspaper report claimed the second-rower had not been seen by the club after an alleged offer from Northampton RU was turned down.

But Cook trained at Odsal all last week and acted as 18th man against Huddersfield on Sunday when the story' was printed.

However, having struggled to gain a regular spot since returning from shoulder surgery in July, the highly-rated 19-year-old concedes he has been troubled by doubts surrounding his future.

Cook signed a new three-year deal in June after featuring in the World Club Challenge, bagging his first senior start against Wigan and named man-of-the-match in the Powergen Challenge Cup win over Hull.

But after four months out crocked, the former England under-19s dual-code international has failed to kick on as he would have liked and found himself on the fringes at Grattan Stadium.

Cook has made just four brief substitute appearances since returning to fitness and has been left out three times in that spell.

He missed the win at Huddersfield when boss Steve McNamara included Warrington-bound second-rower Paul Johnson, preferring to give the Great Britain star some much-needed game time before the play-offs start against Salford on Saturday.

Northampton have shown a brief interest in the player, who originally signed from Saracens, and Cook said after training yesterday: "I was frustrated at not getting the game time I wanted but I never walked out. That was just rubbish.

"There has been some interest in me and I've listened to other people. I wanted to do what's right for me.

"I love it at Bradford Bulls and all the lads here - the supporters are amazing - but I want to be a first-team player here and if I'm not getting games, I'm not naive. I want to progress. I've had some good talks with Steve and the board and I'm still here. They've tried to fix it for me but nothing has been decided yet. I have a three-year deal and want to be here but everything's 50-50 at the moment." Cook has fallen behind Brett Ferres, 20, in the pecking order for second-row spots but hopes to be able to get back on track soon, if not during the play-offs then in 2007 - and hopefully with Bradford.