DALE Ferguson only had a fortnight's break from rugby – but admitted he could not wait to get back.

The Bulls' back-row forward enjoyed a late finish to last season because of his involvement in the European Championship with Scotland.

He returned for pre-season this week alongside fellow international Danny Addy and was delighted to be back among his team-mates.

Ferguson said: "Danny and I only had a couple of weeks since we finished our last game.

"But that's probably enough for us being at home and away from the boys. You keep ticking over and then it's good to get back into the team mentality and back training with the squad again."

Ferguson shares the frustration within the group after getting so near to an instant return to Super League last season.

But despite being edged out by Wakefield in the Million Pound Game, he believes the club's ambitions lie in the top flight.

"We were all gutted after the last game and it's probably in the back of our minds that we underachieved a little bit last year," he said.

"We didn't get to where we want to be. But we've got some new faces in and we're improving the squad.

"We still believe we're a Super League team and we definitely want to get that spot.

"We got to the Million Pound Game, didn't get to Super League, but it's a learning curve in the long run. It's made us want it more."

Ferguson believes the addition of fresh faces like Scotland team-mate Jonathan Walker, Kurt Haggerty, Mitch Clark and Kris Welham will add a spark. He has seen they have quickly settled in with the squad.

He said: "You wouldn't know they were new because they've gelled straight away. That's one of the big positives of this club; that we're a close-knit group.

"It was one of the worst feelings of my life after the Wakefield game seeing the boys upset and knowing we didn't get to where we want to be.

"But we'll get over it, keep it in the back of our minds and start again. We've had a taste and we know the pain of losing. We'll kick on and get the job done this year."