CONTINUITY can be key behind the Bradford Bulls this season, according to John Kear.

The Bulls have added some experience since winning promotion back to the Championship.

Jake Webster and Jy Hitchcox were among the new permanent additions reporting back yesterday for the start of their pre-season programme.

But the bulk of the 2019 squad will be made up with the players who took them straight out of League One – and there is still a number from their last campaign in the Championship.

Kear believes having such a settled group means they can hit the ground running as they build up to the new season.

He said: “We did that on purpose. One to reward the players who got us out of League One but also they know where we’re coming from and what we’re after.

“We are much further on in our preparation than we would have been 12 months ago when we were all learning afresh.

“It was a policy decided upon as both a reward and also for continuity.”

Kear is currently away as the players are put through the first phase of their pre-season preparations. The part-timers in the squad are due in for their opening session today.

The Bulls coach added: “Pre-season has obviously changed down the years.

“Sports science has played a big factor in that and also the number of games players play.

“It’s a different game now. When I played, we took them five metres back so the collisions weren’t as intense.

“Now it’s 10 metres back with bigger fellas and you’ve obviously got to put a different emphasis on things.

“It has evolved but I still believe it’s about playing rugby league. All you’re doing is equipping them to play the game to the best of their ability.”