Bradford Bulls delighted new boys keep settling quickly

Seven non-Englishmen were in the side, while debutant Max Lehmann was one of four players on the pitch to have never played in the country before signing for Bradford.

Yet the winger looked assured all afternoon and scored a try after only 15 minutes, joining Mitch Souter, Zac Fulton and Tyran Ott in instantly looking right at home in a Bradford shirt.

Delighted head coach Eamon O'Carroll said: "The quality of the group we've got, and the way the others welcomed them in when they arrived from Australia, staff included, I honestly believe that's one of our biggest strengths here.

"When these lads have come over here, I feel like they've all settled quickly, which is huge credit to everyone involved in our environment for helping them.

"It's a huge sacrifice them coming over from another country, leaving their families behind to come over here and play for us.

"It's important they feel as if they're at home when they're here and we seem to have got that right.

"We're bringing in quality overseas signings, on and off the field, and these Australian lads are fully immersed in what we're trying to do."

Ott spent the majority of yesterday's game at hooker, and while that was down to the need to manage Souter's game time due to new rules being enforced around the number of minutes players are allowed to have in a season, it was a great chance for the former to get a real stint under his belt.

O'Carroll laughed: "Tyran pulls me every single week for the same conversation, because he's desperate to play more.

Tyran Ott had plenty to celebrate yesterday, seven Bulls tries and plenty of minutes under his belt. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

"I looked at doing it earlier in the year, giving him an opportunity to start over Mitch (in a league defeat against Widnes), but he was ill all that week, so I told him not to push himself to play given he wasn't right.

"He was desperate to play, so he did, but I think Mitch deserved his starting spot back after that game.

"We've had a number of conversations with Tyran, just to tell him he needs to have an element of patience.

"Mitch is playing outstanding rugby at the minute, so deserves to be starting, but I love having the competition we've got in that position."

Ott's fellow Australian Jayden Okunbor has returned to parent club Hull F.C., but was still in attendance at Dewsbury yesterday, wearing a retro Bradford Northern jersey no less.

He was primarily there to support Hull team-mate Franklin Pele on his Bulls debut, showing the exceptional team spirit the club possesses at present.

O'Carroll said: "Credit to Jayden for doing that.

"He loved his time here and we're hopeful we'll get him back, but he's part of the group now, whether he plays another game for us or not.

"He's loved by everyone in the group."

Fulton (dead leg) and Jordan Baldwinson (head knock) both picked up slight injuries yesterday, but neither are expected to miss the league game at Toulouse this coming Saturday.