Bradford Bulls star Sam Hallas hails Eamon O'Carroll

New head coach Eamon O’Carroll will have an extensive pool of talent to choose from, having kept a strong core group of players from last season’s promotion chasing side, whilst also adding fresh new blood to a squad that is growing in confidence.

Hallas, who plays as a loose forward or hooker, will be battling for a starting spot in the middles with players like Mitch Souter and Daniel Smith, who also arrived at the club in the off-season.

“It’s going to be very hard to get into this team, and probably the toughest I’ve experienced in my career, apart from when I was trying to break into the first team,” Hallas admitted.

“The talent is there to be seen, especially in the middles, as the club have managed to retain a lot of their top players from last season and have added the likes of Dan Smith to the ranks, which has taken the quality at our disposal up a gear.

“If any player wants a starting birth in this team, not just me, then we’ll have to be firing on all cylinders. The competition will be healthy, so it bodes well for the club and for me going forward because I’ll be eager to impress at every opportunity. So, fingers crossed I get as many games as possible throughout the season.”

Despite already playing under O'Carroll at Newcastle Thunder in 2022, Hallas believes that it won’t give him the upper hand when it comes to earning a starting birth in next season’s side.

He admitted: “I can’t 100% say what Freddie (Eamon O’Carroll) will be thinking when it comes to picking the team this season, but I don’t think I’ll have any sort of advantage over other players just because I’ve worked under him in the past.

“Freddie knows what I’m about and what I can bring to the team, so if there are certain games where he thinks my skillset will suit the team, then I’m sure he’ll put me in, but right now he’s looking at who’s working hard because that’s what it’s all about in pre-season. It will be tough for him because there is a lot of quality, and I don’t really see a weak link within the group; everyone offers something different.”

Eamon O'Carroll will have a tough job picking his strongest starting lineup (Image: Paul Clayton)

After Hallas labelled O’Carroll as the best coach he’s played under when he re-signed for the Bulls at the start of October, many Bradford fans will have been licking their lips at the prospect of an exciting young coach stepping through the doors at Odsal.

When speaking to the T&A, the three-time Bradford man reaffirmed his admiration for the club’s new head coach.

He said: “I stand by what I said in relation to him being the best coach I’ve worked under. He approaches players in the right way and genuinely cares about you as a person, rather than just seeing you as a rugby league player.

“He’s always making sure that things are okay with you off the field, and on a personal level, he’s got to know my family and my partner, so he’s always checking if they are okay.  A lot of people will think that it’s just rugby and that’s all you need to care about, but Freddie cares about the person.

“On the rugby side of things, his attention to detail and how he breaks down the game is something that I’ve never had in my career. He really goes in depth and tries to teach you as much as he can. After every session he does, he always makes sure that we are fully aware of why we are doing it and how it will help us a team, which always helps for clarity. It shows there is always a method behind his madness.”

Hallas added: “Because me and the players respect him so much, it makes it very easy to go out there and put your body on the line for him. He’s certainly someone who you want to play for. I believe he’s as good as anyone to take the club forward, and if that means Super League, then we’re firmly up for the challenge.”

Sam Hallas has already worked under Bradford's new head coach (Image: Tom Pearson)

Bradford take on Halifax Panthers on a rare Christmas Eve fixture this year, and although it might feel indifferent for fans and working staff alike, Hallas admitted that it suits the players more than a typical Boxing Day fixture.

He said: “Personally, I think it’s so much better having a game on Christmas Eve instead of Boxing Day. I don’t know if I’m speaking for every player, but Boxing Day games are very tough because you can’t enjoy your Christmas Day half as much as you would with your family.

“Having the game on Christmas Eve allows us to enjoy our Christmas much more, and we can go and celebrate with our families properly when the fixture has finished. So, it’s definitely a positive thing for me.”