Mick Potter will spend the next month picking the brains of Australia’s top coaches as he bids to transform Bradford into a serious force in 2012.

The Bulls boss is currently Down Under visiting friends and family during the off-season but he will speak to a number of his contemporaries in search of new ideas and practices to implement at Odsal.

Potter plans to meet with former Bradford coaches Brian Smith and Matthew Elliott, the latter of whom he served under as Bulls assistant coach after beginning his coaching career on the backroom staff at Odsal in the late 1990s.

Also on his radar are new St George Illawarra coach Steve Price and his predecessor Wayne Bennett – arguably the greatest name in rugby league coaching – and former Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels boss Michael Hagan.

Potter, who captained St George during his playing days, said: “This is something I try and do every year when I’m back home near Wollongong.

“It’s basically about spending some time with as many people as possible, given the time constraints, and seeing what you can learn.

“I will speak to Brian Smith and Matt Elliott and will no doubt bump into Wayne Bennett too.

“Steve Price I’ll talk to as well, so they’ll probably be the main ones, and I’ll also speak to a few strength and conditioning coaches over here.

“Michael Hagan is currently working in the media and doing a lot of analysis work, so to touch base with him is good as he’s a clever coach and knows the game inside out.

“I’ll no doubt bump into other people in and around the game who’ve got an influence on the NRL.

“There will be no specific formal talks as clubs in the NRL will be in their off-season or starting pre-season.

“But I’ll meet up with these guys and we’ll have a cup of coffee and see what’s happening, perhaps talking about what their theme is for pre-season in certain areas.

“I’ll let the conversation flow and see where it goes, hopefully picking up some ideas that can be put to use at Bradford.”

Former St Helens coach Daniel Anderson tapped into leading football clubs in the north-west such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Bolton in search of best practice for player care and rehabilitation.

Potter will now look to delve into the methods used in the NRL, explaining: “During the next month or so I’ll allocate one day per week to split myself between two clubs and see two or three people that I know at that club.

“Everyone’s got their own ideas and you do try and come up with things that suit your own personnel.

“But there are certainly some things in strength conditioning, player performance, skill base and physical training which everyone has new and different ideas on.

“If it’s applicable for you then you can take that on board and use it for the benefit of your players and your squad.

“Whether that be a lifting or power exercise, or some training technique they are using, it’s always good to have your eyes and ears open because I don’t think anyone has a monopoly on ideas in the game.”