Adam Henry is out to stake his claim for a regular starting spot when the Bulls open their pre-season campaign against Hull FC on Sunday.

The Auckland-born centre could make his first appearance in a Bradford jersey as Francis Cummins’ men take on the Black and Whites on home soil.

Henry arrived in early December and has acclimatised well to life in West Yorkshire off the field – and now he wants to prove himself on it.

“The pre-season games seem to have come around very quickly and I really want to show Franny what I’ve got,” he said.

“I’m not used to playing in mid-January; in the NRL our trial games usually start in mid-February and the season begins in March.

“But now the games are upon us I want to put myself in the frame to hopefully make the team in round one.

“I’d like to play in the centres – left or right – but I don’t mind playing on the wing either.

“Centre is my preference and I’m working hard at being defensively sound and carrying the ball strongly.”

Henry, who joined the Bulls from Sydney Roosters on a two-year deal, is lodging with team-mate Adrian Purtell in Headingley but spent his first Christmas in England with Bulls assistant coach Lee St Hilaire.

Henry explained: “I had a really good break at Christmas with a lot of down-time, which is exactly what I needed.

“Purts went to Rome to meet up with his sister, so I want to Lee St Hilaire’s house on Christmas Day.

“I had Christmas dinner with him and his family and a few of his friends. It was nice; he’s got a lovely family.

“I really wanted snow over Christmas because I’ve never seen snow before!

“A lot of people have said the weather’s not been as bad as it’s been over the last few years. I’m getting used to the temperatures now anyway.”

Shortly after 22-year-old Henry arrived in England last month, the Bulls announced that savings of up to £400,000 were needed to safeguard the club’s future.

It is hoped that a positive resolution over the club’s ownership is on the horizon and Henry said: “I knew the situation had been going on for the past few seasons but didn’t know about it in depth.

“It was a bit of a shock but there’s nothing us players can really do other than train as hard as we can.

“We just need to let the people behind the scenes get on with whatever they have to do.

“The key thing for us as players is to focus on the trial games because that’s a real positive for us.”

Henry has been impressed with his new team-mates, saying: “Danny Addy has looked good – he’s very versatile and is pretty fit for a big dude. He can play in the back row and the halves.

“Jarrod Sammut is a top athlete and obviously a class player who I know from the NRL. He can run all day and has got the skills to match anyone.

“Nick Scruton is a big strong man and has impressed me too.”

Bulls chief executive Robbie Hunter-Paul revealed on Friday that a number of sponsorship deals would be announced this week.