The Bulls are after a flying start to the new season, so last year's painful play-off exit can finally be laid to rest.

The saying goes you are only as good as your last game but with Bradford's being that horror against Wigan back in September, they have endured a long wait to put things right.

The players are sick of being reminded of the nightmare loss and are keen to get back out on the field to start afresh.

"The papers always want to make a big thing out of these sorts of things," admitted Bulls skipper Paul Deacon.

"But it does give the players an extra incentive to start the season well and get rid of that bad memory.

"I think you might see that in the opening games of the season and hopefully it will spur us on to get that good start we're after.

"But I'm sure, after the first couple, it will be well and truly forgotten."

The scrum-half expects the Bulls' new signings to provide a more natural early-season boost.

Chris Nero, Semi Tadulala, Wayne Godwin, Ben Jeffries, Paul Sykes and Simon Finnigan all have plenty to prove individually and that can only be good for Steve McNamara's side.

"We've got six new players in and they do all want to get cracking and get a good start with their new club," Deacon said.

"They know coming here that they can reach finals and that's what they all want.

"We've got a good mix at the moment."

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