It has been a long road to Super League for Liam McAvoy – well over 100 miles in fact.

Offered the chance of a professional contract with the Bulls last year, the 16-year-old prop upped sticks from Whitehaven and transformed his entire life.

Inevitably, the transition has been tough. A man twice the age would have struggled, let alone a teenager still immersed in A-Level studies, but McAvoy has embraced the change wholeheartedly.

He said: “It’s been hard, mainly because I’ve moved away from home. That was pretty tough. But it’s got easier over the space of a few months and it’s all right now. I’m used to it.

“I’m still in school but I’ve been in basically full-time for a few months now and it’s been going really well.

“I knew Bradford was the right club for me. It just felt right. I came down here for a look around the club and everything just felt right, so it fell into place quickly after that.

“It’s been good so far and everything has matched my expectations.”

One of the most highly-touted young prospects in his age group, McAvoy was part of the Bulls’ most recent academy intake in July.

But the prop’s prodigious talents have seen him fast-tracked straight into the full-time squad, following in the footsteps of housemate James Donaldson.

A fellow Cumbrian, Donaldson also swapped the Lakes for the Dales at the age of 16 and has been able to help his young team-mate through the settling-in process.

“I’ve been living with Donno and that’s helped me a lot because he knows what I’m going through, so he can help with it all,” said McAvoy.

“I’m settling pretty well but I still think it’s important to go home regularly. Every two weeks or so I go home just to see my family because you do miss the home comforts.

“After a week I’m all right but two weeks is tough. You do get a bit homesick.”

That aside, the former Broughton Red Rose amateur also has the transition to professional training to contend with.

“It’s been a lot harder than expected, a lot harder than any training I’ve ever done in my life,” said McAvoy.

“It’s just been about getting a lot fitter. When I started off I wasn’t fit at all, so I wanted to make sure I got a lot fitter. It’s been a tough pre-season but it’s been good for me.”

Actual Super League action is still a long way down the road yet for McAvoy but he insists he is developing daily on a sharp learning curve.

He said: “This first year is just about learning really. I just want to learn the set-up because I still haven’t got to grips with that properly.

“But after this year I want to start pushing towards the first team.

“My grip, catch and pass and stuff like that are areas I know I need to improve but I’m working on them and I know it will come with time.”