Rookie Sam Burgess admits he relished being a Bulls main man.

Boss Steve McNamara believes the talented 18-year-old "came of age" as their 12 men battled to overcome Wakefield on Sunday.

Burgess - switched from prop to loose forward for the injury-hit Bulls - bagged 14 points courtesy of a try and five goals.

But it was his piercing bursts and non-stop tackling that saw him take the man-of-the-match honours as the outstanding teenager came to the fore in the abscence of crocked playmakers Iestyn Harris and Paul Deacon.

"I think that extra responsibility with goalkicking, playing loose forward and playing more game-time made me feel a bit more up for it than normal," he said. "I really enjoyed it out there."

The gutsy Bulls sealed a 38-24 victory despite seeing Joe Vagana red-carded before the break when they led just 16-12.

Burgess, making only his seventh start, admitted: "It was a fantastic effort. We said at half-time that we'd have to go out with a die-hard mentality to win and we did.

"I think we did ourselves justice and did ourselves proud."

The Bulls travel to Hull KR this Sunday to face a side full of confidence after winning a massive relegation battle at Salford.

"It will be very tough over there with a hostile crowd and surroundings," said Burgess. "But if we put the same effort in as we did on Sunday I can't see anyone beating us before the end of the season."

Meanwhile, having stepped in to take goal kicks against Wakefield, the versatile star revealed: "I used to do it at amateur level and kicked a few in Academy games but other than that I've not really done it much. I did a little bit in training on Saturday knowing Deacs was a bit iffy and it was between me and Glenn Morrison.

"I think Steve just gave it to me because Morro would have further to go back at the kick-offs.

"I'm quite happy getting my first Super League goal - it's another achievement - but I didn't think I kicked that well, apart from the first."

Bulls fans will have worried themselves working out who was going to take conversions with their side bereft of Deacon and Harris but Burgess casually slotted a brilliant kick from touch to improve Dave Halley's early score.

It is no surprise he has been labelled one of the country's most natural talents but there is still a debate as to what the former England Academy starlet's best position is.

Burgess has come off the bench at prop mainly in his 33 games since debuting last year but has the footballing skills to impact a game from No 13.

"I'm happy anywhere in the pack," he said. "I used to play at loose as an amateur and in the Academy while I've played second row and prop for the Academy and first team. I really don't mind as long as I keep playing week in, week out."

He added: "Glenn Morrison has been brilliant. I share a car into training every morning with him and Joe (Vagana) and they've brought me on leaps and bounds.

"You're always learning off people like that so it's been fantastic."

Great Britain boss Tony Smith has hinted Burgess could make his squad to face the Kiwis this autumn but the youngster said: "I'm not really thinking about it.

"All I'm thinking about is getting the job done with Bradford. It would be a great honour for me as an 18-year-old to be picked for Great Britain but I just want to try and get the Bulls to the Grand Final."

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