Ryan Hudson is enjoying his rugby again and has been a key figure in Huddersfield's amazing run - but a hint of bitterness remains when the hooker talks of his brief stay at Bradford.

The former England A hooker is three months into his comeback from a two-year drugs ban and beginning to prove a big hit at the Galpharm Stadium.

Huddersfield's steadily improving form has mirrored that of Hudson, who, after being on the bench for six of the first seven matches - which all ended in defeat - has started each of the last eight games, all of which have brought victory.

Things are certainly looking up for the former Castleford man after those long dark days in the abyss.

Hudson had joined Bradford in December 2004 but never played for them after testing positive for the banned steroid Stanozolol, just four days after putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.

The visit of the Bulls may rekindle thoughts of what might have been for the player, who insists he's put the issue to bed.

"I believe the past is the past," he said. "Things happen and you have to move on.

"At the end of the day, in this game you are a piece of meat. When you're going good, the world loves you and, when you're bad, it's see you later'.

"A lot of loyalty has gone out of the game. It's a business. If you look at when people get injured, the clubs get rid of them.

"I suppose they could have handled it better but it's down to me now. I'm enjoying it, that's the main thing."

Hudson, who turned professional with Huddersfield in 1998, endured some low points during his enforced exile, when he threw all his energies into building up his business as a personal trainer.

"I trained every day, which was tough because there was no game at the end of the week and it got demoralising at times," he said. "But I believe things happen for a reason and I'm glad it happened. I did a lot of soul-searching."