Miffed Shontayne Hape can't wait for Super League XIII so he can finally put his horror 2007 to bed - and shut up some crowing Lions.

The stellar Bulls centre is ripping into training in Lanzarote after returning from his winter break a fortnight ago.

Hape is ready to rock after frustratingly missing most of the last campaign due to the third knee reconstruction of his career.

He was back in time for the business end but only played once before Bradford crashed to Wigan - and then came New Zealand's nightmare against Great Britain.

"I definitely want to forget 2007," Hape conceded. "What with the knee, then the way we went out of the play-offs and then to top things off that embarrassing 3-0 whitewash against Great Britain, it just wasn't a very good year for myself.

"But we're into a new one now and I'm hoping for the best.

"I think with this squad it could be Bradford's year."

First, though, the returning Kiwi star is having to wince as he contends with constant abuse from Bradford's gleeful British contingent.

"They don't stop," Hape said, after being handed regular reminders of the Lions' dominance.

"It's like they've won the World Cup or something.

"As soon as I came back, Steve Mac was in my ear, then Terry (Newton) and Sam (Burgess) started with the ribbing but I've just said wait until they play us Down Under.

"Things did go wrong for us last year and Britain deserve all the credit they got but we had a young side out.

"We're just concentrating on getting things right for the World Cup now and once we get all our players back it'll be a different story. I've warned them!"

Hape's international commitments also came to a premature end after breaking a wrist in the second Test.

But the player - who became a dad for the first time before Christmas - said: "The cast came off a couple of weeks ago and I got the all-clear with the wrist before I came out to Lanzarote. Everything's fine with that and I'm just looking forward to starting the season now - fresh and injury-free."

With quality centres Paul Sykes and Chris Nero two of McNamara's big winter signings, Hape concedes competition has never been hotter at Grattan Stadium.

"We were begging for players to play last year with all the injuries but now we've got the numbers it's going to keep everyone on their toes, including me," he said.

"There's five top guys who can play at centre, everyone's keen and anyone can put their hand up."

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