EPALAHAME Lauaki has vowed to come back "fitter and stronger" for next season's promotion assault.

The Tongan prop joined the Bulls ahead of the 2015 campaign and became a regular in the side off the bench.

Despite struggling to play more than 15 minutes in many games, Lauaki is satisfied with how he fared during his debut year at Odsal.

The 31-year-old former New Zealand Warriors, Hull FC and Wigan man insists Bradford fans have not yet seen the best of him.

"I've got one more year on my contract at Bradford and you play this game because you love it and the challenges that come with it," said Lauaki.

"For me, this year was all about doing the little things right and if I did that in training then it would all come together on game day.

"I'll be better next season and there is always room for improvement – but I've just been happy to be out there on the pitch.

"I'm proud of what we've done as a group and I'm definitely looking forward to next season. I'll come back fitter and stronger next year."

Lauaki admitted the Bulls' failure to win promotion in the Million Pound Game at Wakefield last weekend hurt local lads such as Adam O'Brien and Danny Addy the most.

But he said he was also left devastated by the loss and added: "Everyone is hurt because the players worked so hard for that one game.

"To lose the way we did was tough to take and you could tell it hurt the home-grown players the most.

"But us guys who have come to the club have all bought into that as well, so we really wanted to make a statement and get Bradford up.

"It's just a hard one to take – but next year we won't need any motivation, that's for sure."

The Bulls' search for new front-rowers is underway but Lauaki, Samir Tahraoui and Dan Fleming all remain under contract for 2016, along with regular starting props Paul Clough and Adam Sidlow.