BULLS rookie Joe Lumb is eager for more first-team action after making his competitive debut against Swinton.

The boyhood Bradford fan came off the bench in the final quarter at Widnes to get his first taste of senior action.

The hooker had featured off the bench in the pre-season friendlies against Leeds and Castleford and he was tipped for a future at first-team level by head coach Jimmy Lowes after last weekend's game.

Lumb said: “It was a dream come true to be involved in my first competitive game for the Bulls.

“I’m a Bradford lad and this is the club I’ve supported since I was a kid – I was a season-ticket holder.

“I came on with around fifteen minutes to go, so I knew the game was won at that point.

“That meant I could just go on and enjoy my time out there.

“I live in Halifax now but I’ve played rugby all my life in Bradford and West Bowling is my amateur club.

“I started off at Wibsey Under-9s but from Under-13s I played at West Bowling, which was a great club to be at.

“The likes of Elliott Whitehead and Elliot Minchella have come from there and done well in recent years, so hopefully I can be the next one. It’s certainly achievable.”

Lumb went full-time with Ethan Ryan at the end of last season and is competing with Vila Halafihi to be Adam O’Brien’s deputy.

“Adam is obviously the number one hooker, so it’s a fight for that second spot,” said Lumb.

“If Jimmy wants to give Adam a break and give me some minutes then great, but I’m sure he will give Vila opportunities too. There is good competition for places there.”