Heath L’Estrange will spend the next month working his way back to full fitness – with a helping hand from his big brother.

The Bulls hooker, 26, sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury against St Helens in June, ending his campaign prematurely and dealing a hammer blow to Mick Potter’s side.

He is currently back home in Australia where he will step up his rehab’ alongside elder sibling Sean, a fitness specialist at the ‘New Image’ gym in Sydney who is also contracted to Parramatta Eels as their strength and conditioning coach.

L’Estrange told the T&A: “I’ve got a physio, a doctor and a personal trainer here for me, so I’ll be fit and stronger when I come back for pre-season training with the Bulls.

“Sean is my personal trainer and has been taking me into his own little studio at New Image and looking after me.”

Sean, a highly-qualified fitness specialist, has worked at New Image, based in Sydney’s Hills District, since 2004.

“He’s got a few degrees and is very skilled and experienced,” explained L’Estrange.

“He’s also had a knee reconstruction himself, so he knows exactly what it takes in terms of rehab’ from this type of injury.

“He will get me fit for when I return to Bradford next month.”

L’Estrange will report back for pre-season training at the end of October – a fortnight before several of his team-mates.

“I’m back home for a month and start training again on October 31,” he said.

“I start two weeks before most of the rest of the guys because I’m coming back from injury. But I’ll be fit for January.”

Meanwhile, Bulls forward Olivier Elima has been included in France’s squad ahead of their autumn Test series against Scotland and Ireland.