Thirty two-year-old Garreth Carvell baulks at the suggestion he is nearing the end of his career and has promised Bulls fans that he will be bringing his A-game next season.
In fact the hulking England prop says he wants to carry on for “another five or six years” yet.
Carvell will commence pre-season training with his new employers today and has this message for the Odsal faithful.
“Before I signed for the Bulls, Francis Cummins came to my house to check whether I still have that same hunger.
“I want to be playing at international level, as do most of the other boys here, and to do that you have to be hungry. You have to impress.
“I still want to be playing into my late 30s and I feel, if I can look after myself and play in the right way, there is no reason why not. Just look at Steve Menzies, Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock, all former Bradford players.
“I can see myself ending my career with Bradford – but hopefully that will be in five or six years’ time.”
Carvell met his new team-mates last month on the first day back after the summer break, when the players underwent a series of health tests, but has been absent from training as he recovers from a broken rib suffered in the Grand Final defeat to Wigan.
Now, after five years plying his trade with Warrington, the former Leeds and Hull FC man is looking forward to satisfying his appetite for Super League with the Bulls and bonding with his like-minded team-mates.
“There is a very apparent hunger in everyone at the club,” he added.
“Everyone here wants to go out next season and prove a massive point.
“Some still have doubts about the Bulls and we all want to prove them wrong. We will not do that by shouting, though, or making a fuss, we will just continue to build in the right way and allow our rugby to do the talking.
“We are all working hard to help the club relive its glory days and I am absolutely delighted to be a part of that. It is now a case of pulling together – in the right direction.
“Of course it is going to be a big task, given the trials and tribulations the Bulls have had to deal with over the past few years, but the good thing is the closeness and camaraderie of everyone involved.” And Carvell emphasised how important that camaraderie and spirit will be as the Bulls strive for success in 2014.
“A few players have left but we have made some great signings. But it isn’t always about the best players making the best teams, it is also about the attitude and state of mind of the players as well as the team spirit and bond in the squad.
“I have already seen that in the boys and I have barely had any involvement in pre-season training yet. We need to work for each other and put ourselves on the line for one another.
“Everyone at the club is great friends and it is a nice environment to be a part of. People get along and I hope I can add to that, while bringing some punch to the front-row.”
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