Tom Olbison has given the Bulls a major boost by signing a contract extension on improved terms which keeps him at the club until the end of 2015.

The back-rower, who joined the Bulls as a 16-year-old and made his Super League debut against Warrington in 2009, is highly regarded by coach Francis Cummins.

Although his previous deal did not expire until the end of next season, the Bulls were keen to secure the player’s long-term future.

Olbison said: “I was here until the end of next year, so they’ve added a year to it and I’m obviously delighted.

“I take it as a big compliment because I wasn’t up for renewal and this is a big confidence boost because it shows the club want me here.

“I was more than happy to take it because it gives me some added security.”

The new deal is timely for Olbison as he recently bought his first house with girlfriend Vanessa in Great Preston, Leeds.

“We moved in together on Monday," he revealed.  

“Obviously I’ve never had a mortgage or rent to worry about before, so it’s great that the club have come in and offered me this new deal.

“I can just focus on my rugby now and not think ‘I’m out of contract at the end of next year’.

“You can come in, do your training and hopefully perform at the weekend.”

Having enjoyed some outstanding form at the start of the season, Olbison has lost his place in the side in recent weeks and played twice for Dewsbury.

“I played pretty well at the start of the year but have dropped off a little bit in the last few weeks,” he said.

“It’s just a matter of getting back to where I was and working hard to force my way back into Franny’s plans.”

Cummins said he was delighted to lengthen 22-year-old Olbison’s contract and said the forward’s pedigree was not in doubt.

“This is a massive thing for the club and I really do rate Tom highly,” said the Bulls coach.

“He played very well at the start of the year but then had a bit of an injury and form can sometimes go when that happens.

“But he’s shown enough this year to warrant a new deal and, having come through the ranks, he’s definitely got a love for the club and has great potential.”

Bulls owner Omar Khan added: “I’m absolutely delighted that Tom has signed a new extended contract with the Bulls.

“He is a Bulls junior who has progressed through the ranks and I know Francis thinks very highly of him.  

“He has committed his future to the club and is just the sort of player we want at the Bulls.”

Cummins, who said more deals would be announced in the coming weeks, revealed that Adrian Purtell could return against St Helens on Sunday.

But John Bateman and Jarrod Sammut are still feeling the effects of dead legs sustained against Hull KR and Chev Walker’s knee injury will be assessed later in the week.

Cummins said joint-captain Matt Diskin had missed the Craven Park reverse through sickness and would also be monitored.

Jamie Foster is set for several more weeks of rehabilitation after aggravating his injured pectoral muscle during the Magic Weekend defeat to Huddersfield.