Bulls coach Mick Potter has warned his players they must return for pre-season in better physical condition than ever.

Despite playing their last game at Wakefield on September 9, Potter’s men continued to train for two weeks after the end of the campaign.

They finally retired for their off-season break last Friday, with Potter stressing the importance of returning to Bradford for pre-season training in tip-top condition.

The Bulls’ fitness levels came under scrutiny during the 2011 campaign after they fell to a number of heavy defeats. Yet Potter has vowed to raise standards ahead of next term.

“The players have been presented with all their routines for the next few weeks,” said the Bradford chief.

“They have got to come back in as good – if not better – physical condition by the time we start pre-season training.

“We need to be better across the board with our fitness because that will lead to better skill when fatigued. We cannot go backwards during this break.”

The majority of the Bulls’ senior players will begin training again in mid-November, while the club’s young guns will return a fortnight earlier.

Potter, who is currently back home in Australia visiting friends and family, said: “The two weeks’ training after our last game of the regular season at Wakefield was put in place regardless of whether we made the play-offs.

“We did it so we can marry it in when we start up again in October and early November. It’s a case of standardising training and raising standards.

“The guys responded very well, which bodes well for when we return for pre-season. The young guys start back again on October 31 and the more senior players will start a couple of weeks after that.”