RECRUITING the right players is crucial for any team in achieving sporting success.

Take the current Leeds Rhinos outfit or the all-conquering Bradford vintage of 2003 who became the first Super League side to do the treble.

Well-oiled machines who just needed a new cog every now and then to keep the wheels turning.

Such as a Mike Forshaw. Or an Adam Cuthbertson. Or a Lesley Vainikolo.

The Bulls brought in over a dozen new faces at the end of last season as they sought to make an immediate return to Super League.

Karl Harrison said in an interview with the Telegraph & Argus recently that the policy of signing largely unproven players had backfired.

It was a damning assessment, but the man tasked with assembling the Bulls’ squad for 2015 is unrepentant.

Managing director Steve Ferres said: “I don’t subscribe to the theory that they were gambles. You could say anyone was a gamble.

“Even if you look at Leeds – they brought Adam Cuthbertson into their squad and then Mitch Garbutt late on – they are looking to strengthen next season with another hooker.

“They’re the best team and they’re still looking to improve.

“You can look at people but until you get them in the environment then it’s how they fit into that environment and that’s how you mould your team.

“The majority of that whittling-down process has been done and I think a new, stable squad will develop over the next few years but it’s an ongoing process.

“Basically we’ve got a squad of players and Jimmy picks the team from that squad, which is a revolving door.”

Paul Clough proved an astute signing and was a mainstay in the front row alongside Adam Sidlow and Adam O’Brien.

Jake Mullaney also looked a class above the Championship when he played and the Bulls managed to retain the bulk of their key men from 2014 such as Lee Gaskell, Danny Addy and Adam O’Brien.

But many of the new faces signed last winter ended up out of the first-team picture or out on loan.

Ferres said the Bulls will assess which players might be given a chance to impress during pre-season.

“Jimmy has been away with England but on his return we will be looking at what the squad will look like,” said Ferres.

“Hopefully there will be some change in it and it maybe that the change comes later.

“We’ve got to look at what we’ve got and how people react during pre-season.

“At the end of the day if players became available to suit you then you move in and you move forward – that’s how the process evolves.

“Jimmy and I will come up with a plan in the next couple of weeks. We both want to win and we’re not quitters.”

Oscar Thomas, currently part of Scotland’s European Championship squad, is joining the Bulls for next season.

It is understood that Doncaster prop Mitch Clark and Batley full back Johnny Campbell, currently recovering from a serious leg break, will also be announced as new recruits.

Ferres added: “We’ll be giving the players we’ve already got the opportunity to get to where they need to be.

“We will add a little bit to it but what we take the field with at the start of the season won’t be far off what we finished with this year.

“That isn’t to say that things won’t change throughout the year, as it did last season, because things evolve.

“If we think we need to add something to it then we will try and do that.

“We weren’t a million miles off this season and if we work hard and get stuck in again next season then hopefully we will get our due rewards.

“There are a lot of things to take into consideration with the football department.

“Injuries play a part and it’s not just one man – it’s a team; the coaching staff, myself and the chairman.

“As long as we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet and working towards the same goal with desire and passion, then we’ll give it our best shot.

“We have about 26 players signed on so there is no direct rush to go out and do anything rash at the moment.

“We will evaluate everybody and we will formulate a plan. Everyone is in the mix.”

Half-back and prop appear the key areas for the Bulls to strengthen but Ferres said: “We have just signed a half-back in Oscar Thomas and he can play full-back too.

“Harry Siejka had an injury at Wakefield and with us but I think he’s shown he’s a competitive little player.

“He’s still contracted with us, he’s still in the mix and he’s still highly regarded.

“I’m not going to go into the areas we are looking to strengthen in, but the people who have got the positions now will be evaluated in pre-season and then into the friendlies. We will go from there.”