You would think that signing a player from overseas and bringing him to Odsal might be a relatively straightforward process.

Player is offered contract, player signs contract, player flies over for pre-season training.

Simple, right?

Well, not quite.

“There’s so much more that goes into it,” says Stuart Duffy, the Bulls’ long-serving football and media manager.

“Paperwork, visa applications, picking the player up at the airport, sorting a house, arranging a car, looking after their other halves and helping to find a school if they have children.”

Some of the finest players to have graced the red, amber and black of Bradford arrived from foreign shores.

Robbie Paul, Lesley Vainikolo, Shontayne Hape, the list is endless.

They prospered on the pitch because of their rare ability and settled easily off it because of the warm atmosphere and family environment at the club.

For Duffy, the work begins when the player has been identified and a deal agreed.

“The first thing we have to do as a club is to apply to the RFL for a Governing Body Endorsement,” he explains.

“It’s our responsibility to prove that the player qualifies for this through the games he has played in the NRL or is an international.

“Once we have obtained the GBE we then apply to the Border Agency for a Certificate of Sponsorship – that is relatively straightforward – and then, once we have sent it to the player, he can apply for a visa.

“I’m the only person at the club licensed to do this with the Border Agency and I have to get all the player’s personal details; the country he was born in, current address, passport details, his entire career history.

“I will speak to his agent, either on the phone or via e-mail, and then get in touch with the player. Working in conjunction with Mick Potter, we will set a date for when the player will arrive in England. That often means sorting out flights for the player and his family.”

The club helps to organise accommodation for players.

Jarrod Sammut, one of four new signings to arrive from overseas for the 2012 campaign, landed in the UK from Down Under last week.

The former Crusaders man, having lived in the UK previously, is happy to find his own apartment or house and is currently residing at the Cedar Court Hotel on an interim basis.

Adrian Purtell, though, had never set foot in England until he arrived at Manchester Airport on Sunday.

For the time being, he is residing in a house rented by the club in East Bierley.

The 26-year-old will soon move, possibly to an apartment, before Keith Lulia and his partner move into the house upon their arrival next month.

Duffy added: “Jarrod is currently in a hotel and Adrian is in a house which Patrick Ah Van lived in during his year with us.

“Keith will move in when he arrives next month as Adrian is looking to move into an apartment.”

Several of the Bulls squad live in Morley, such as Nick Scruton and Brett Kearney, while others reside around the Bradford area and across West Yorkshire.

Duffy added: “In terms of the overseas players, Debbie Charlton will e-mail them with pictures of properties and make sure they are happy with it, so that when they arrive everything is in place.

“Brett Kearney had arranged somewhere to live himself when he and his wife arrived but a lot of the time the overseas lads are looked after by us.

“They’re always very nice places and Matt Diskin is in property too, so we’re never short of options.”

Duffy collects the player at the airport – Mick Withers was the first player he picked up in 1999 and he has collected every one since – and drives him to his accommodation.

Players are then given a car and a tour of the stadium, training ground and the local area.

Debbie Charlton, the Bulls’ relationship manager, similarly ensures players’ wives and girlfriends are looked after.

She also ensures all rented properties are in tip-top condition.

“Debbie does a fantastic job,” says Duffy.

“When Adrian arrived on Sunday, for example, Debbie had filled the fridge with fruit, pasta, bread and milk, and made sure the central heating was on so the house is nice and warm upon their arrival.

“All the bedding was new, with the bed made and she will be the one that sorts out his phone and bank account.

“It’s little things like that which help players to settle and Debbie is brilliant in this area.”