When Heath L’Estrange confirmed that he was heading home to Australia, Adam O’Brien had mixed emotions.

On one hand, the promising young Bulls hooker was losing his mentor and good friend.

On the other, he now has a golden opportunity to finally establish himself as a regular in Francis Cummins’ side.

L’Estrange’s departure has left Matt Diskin as the Bulls’ only senior number nine and the onus is on O’Brien to step up to the plate.

“I’ve got three months of pre-season now to work really hard and impress Franny,” said the 20-year-old, who made his debut in a heavy defeat at Huddersfield in March 2011.

“It’s going well so far, so fingers crossed I get that jersey, whether it be a starting spot or on the bench, because I just want to play regular first-team rugby this year and perform.

“That’s what I need to do. Heath has taught me so much in the last few years and we became good friends.

“It was bad news that he had to leave but obviously he had family reasons and that comes first.

“But on the plus side, it has helped me because it has opened up that chance for me to play.”

Do not overlook Nathan Conroy, either, the young homegrown Academy product who became a full-time professional earlier this year along with Alex Mellor.

Conroy is also highly regarded and has been a regular in England’s Academy side along with Mellor.

O’Brien is a confirmed admirer of his fellow hooker and believes the teenager will also be jostling for position this coming season.

“Nathan is a couple of years below me but I definitely think he will get a chance too next year,” said the younger brother of former Bradford City defender Luke O’Brien.

“I’ve had to bide my time behind Heath and Disko but now Heath has gone, hopefully I can push into that spot.

“But there is Conroy as well and he’s in the same boat as me; he’ll want to have a big pre-season and be fighting for a spot.

“There is Nathan, Disko and myself, so once again there are three hookers next season fighting for the two spots.

“I think Nathan, with his age, is still eligible for Under-19s and he might go to Dewsbury and play to get some experience out there.

“But he’s got the same chance as me to play, so all three hookers have got to train hard and impress Franny.”

O’Brien admits he was frustrated at times last season as Diskin and L’Estrange barred his way to regular first-team action.

He still managed to make eight first-team appearances and score the first Super League try of his career in the thumping win at Huddersfield on March 3.

That underlined the rich potential of the former Siddal amateur, who was awarded a long-term contract last year.

A loan move to London Broncos was mooted earlier in the season but never materialised and O’Brien played the vast majority of his rugby in 2013 on dual registration at Dewsbury Rams, the Bulls’ partnership club.

It was an experience he enjoyed and has toughened him up for the rigours of Super League back at the Provident Stadium.

“It was frustrating at times last season but like I keep saying, there are three hookers and only two spots so someone will always be left out,” O’Brien explained.

“That was me most weeks of the season but I got my chance to go to Dewsbury and I really enjoyed myself there.

“I think my game improved playing against fully-grown men and the standard I was playing at.

“I didn’t mind going there because I really did benefit from it.

“I made friends there and I enjoyed Glenn Morrison’s coaching.

“There was a chance of London coming in for a loan but Tommy Lee went there and Franny said he wanted me here pushing for that spot.

“It didn’t quite happen for me but, fingers crossed, I can really push for that spot this year.”