STEVE Crossley looked and felt at home on his first day of training with his new Bradford team-mates on Thursday.

The glorious sunshine had left him sporting a healthy glow and he sounded like a man ready to make the most of his second coming.

It has to be remembered that Crossley left Odsal under something of a cloud at the end of 2011. He had made just two appearances that season and was released from the final year of his contract by mutual consent.

Crossley recalled: "I didn't leave on the best of terms and I was pretty frustrated with my time here the first time around.

"I wasn't getting much game-time, which I understood because I was still young, but I was playing in the reserves a lot and had been since I was 16, so I wasn't really developing any more.

"With the struggles that Bradford had financially at the time, things just weren't happening for me. The best thing for me was to leave the club and go part-time in the Championship and get plenty of game-time and experience of playing.

"That very much benefited me as a player and I am able to come back now and put all my experience of the Championship to good use with Bradford."

Crossley's departure from the club he grew up supporting saw him join Dewsbury before making a move to Featherstone, where he emerged as one of the best props in the Championship. Yet going part-time meant he had to find a job.

He said: "When I left Bradford and joined Dewsbury, I went straight into a sports supplements business. After moving to Featherstone, I ended up getting into financial services protection, which is what I'm still doing now.

"I've experienced first-hand going from a full-time rugby environment to absolutely nothing and I would always advise any player to have something else behind you to fall back on."

Crossley made less than a dozen appearances for Bradford after making his debut in 2010, having progressed through the youth ranks.

He was named player of the tour for the England Academy in Australia 2008 and said: "I think that got the ball rolling for the start of my career and I'd like to think I've left my mark on the Championship in the past few seasons.

"I'm 25 now – but that's baby years for a prop forward and I definitely believe my best is yet to come.

"I still think there is a lot more to come from me and I'm looking forward to showing it. I've come home now, so I feel comfortable with where I am."

Crossley's move to Castleford from Featherstone at the end of last season did not work out but he says the opportunity to rejoin the Bulls more than makes up for it.

He was outstanding for the Tigers against Jimmy Lowes' side in a pre-season friendly and Bradford fans should get to see his aggressive, hard-hitting style at Doncaster tomorrow.

"There's a little bit of disappointment about how it ended at Castleford – but that disappointment goes with the chance to come back to my home-town club," said Crossley.

"Once it became apparent that I was coming to Bradford, Jimmy rang me up straight away and asked me how I felt about it and told me what he expected of me.

"I think he took me for a couple of scholarship sessions when I was 13 or 14 years old, although I don't think Jimmy will remember that!

"Jimmy is a top bloke, and obviously he's a tough coach, but I think we'll get on well. When he gives me the nod to play, I'll show people how much this club means to me."