Bulls boss Mick Potter is confident the club’s newest professionals are in good hands.

Eleven youngsters today signed academy contracts, including three England Schoolboys internationals and ten from Bradford’s own scholarship system.

The first-team squad already contains 14 home-grown players and Potter has tipped more to join them in the near future.

The pick of the bunch are England trio Alex Mellor, Curtis Naughton and Josh Casey.

King Cross loose forward Mellor, Shaw Cross ARLFC full back Naughton and Casey, a centre from Siddal ARLFC, have starred in the Bulls’ all-conquering under-16 scholarship side.

They have lost just once in the past two years and a further seven of that side have also earned professional deals.

Scrum half Adam Brook, centre Tom Johnstone and back-rower Emmerson Whittle were all team-mates of Mellor at Halifax-based King Cross, while Naughton is joined by fellow Shaw Cross graduates Bradley Adams, a back-rower, and Jordan Hargreaves, who plays prop.

Hooker Nathan Conroy has signed from West Bowling, the club that produced current Bull Elliott Whitehead, and prop Steve Copeland comes from Leeds club Whinmoor Warriors.

The only member of the group not to feature for Bradford’s scholarship side is back-rower Oliver Roberts.

A product of Siddal ARLFC and cousin of current under-20s star Jobe Murphy, he was on the books at Salford and the Bulls beat off competition from five Super League rivals for his signature.

Read Mick Potter's quotes in today's Telegraph & Argus