Steve Menzies will always be a Manly boy through and through but, a year into his English adventure, Bradford feels just like home.

Born and raised in Manly, the legendary second-rower spent 14 seasons with the Sea Eagles before joining the Bulls last year.

Having spent most of his life in maroon and white, he could be forgiven for finding the switch to red, amber and black somewhat difficult.

But the former Aussie Test star has settled in seamlessly at Odsal and, despite turning 36 on Friday, feels as hungry and energetic as ever ahead of the new season.

Menzies said: “I thought, playing for Manly for so long and being born there and always supporting them, I couldn’t do better than that. It was always going to be hard to beat Manly, where I grew up.

“But it’s been awesome for the whole family. We came over and I knew I’d enjoy it but we absolutely love it. I wanted to play another season and Bradford wanted to keep me so it was an easy choice.”

Menzies has been a revelation for the Bulls, not just on the pitch but off it as well, acting as the club’s unofficial Australian recruitment officer.

Off-season signings Matt Orford, Glenn Hall and Heath L’Estrange all turned to ‘Beaver’ for advice after being approached by Bradford and received a glowing reference from their former Manly team-mate.

Menzies has even offered Hall a crash course in Yorkshire life, offering him and wife Kylie somewhere to stay as they wait to move into their new house.

He said: “I’ve brought a couple of Aussies with me this time. They’ve found a place but they can’t move in until mid-December. It’s good having them around.

“There’s a spare bedroom for guests who come over for a bit of a holiday and also to train when they’re learning where to drive and how to do everything.

“When Heath and Hally and Matt Orford gave us a call and said ‘what do you think?’, I told them I love the place.

“It’s a whole new experience, the club’s great, all the boys are really good, the coaching staff are great. It’s a really enjoyable club and I 100 per cent recommend it.

“So I told them ‘if you’ve got the chance then do it because you might not get another one, you won’t regret it’. That’s how I feel.”

Former Cronulla star Brett Kearney rounds out the Bulls’ new Aussie contingent and the quality of imports has Menzies excited about the Bulls’ prospects in 2010.

“It’s an exciting adventure and we are looking in good shape for next year,” said Menzies.

“The players coming over really are top-quality Australians coming over at the peak of their careers and that’s exciting.

“To play alongside those people and then the guys who played last year as well, it’s a squad that can hopefully make things happen on the field.”