The pressure is on Steve McNamara in 2009 as the Bulls look to bounce back from a disappointing year last time out.
Signing of Bird gives McNamara an extra option at half-back
A fifth-placed finish followed by an early exit from the play-offs mean Bulls coach Steve McNamara finds himself under pressure at the start of the new campaign.
Having been seen as contenders for many years, Bradford slipped further behind the 'big two' in 2008, despite being the third highest scorers in the top flight.
They lost four times to arch-rivals Leeds, a painful run of results for their supporters in particular, and fell at the first hurdle in the play-offs when losing 30-14 to Wigan at Widnes' Stobart Stadium.
Their cause was not helped by injuries, particularly to star prop Sam Burgess, and the departure midway through the year of Shontayne Hape to rugby union.
However, despite a disappointing season, McNamara has refused to tear up his squad and start again, instead looking to some of the club's youngsters, including promising props Craig Kopczak and Steve Crossley, to support an inexperienced core group.
The winter months initially saw four new recruits - the biggest name of the quartet being the arrival of Steve Menzies from Down Under.
The former Australia international comes to the Grattan Odsal Stadium from the Manly Sea Eagles and despite being 34, the forward has not made the move simply for one last pay day.
As well as Menzies, the pack will be boosted by Nick Scruton, who has made the short switch from Leeds after winning the Grand Final, and Michael Worrincy.
Like Worrincy, Rikki Sheriffe has made the move north from Harlequins and should help add some speed to a back division too reliant on Semi Tadulala (who scored 17 tries last year) to find the line.
It appeared the Bulls squad was in all in place coming into the campaign until they suddenly won the race to sign Greg Bird, a talented Australian with something of a troubled past.
While the stand-off should be seen as welcome addition to the English game, his arrival means McNamara again has selection issues over his half-backs, something that had appeared to be solved with Iestyn Harris' departure.
Paul Deacon and Ben Jeffries, who has so far failed to fire in the same way he did at Wakefield, are set to occupy the pivotal positions until Bird flies in.
If Bradford can keep the injuries to a minimum, Andy Lynch has already become an early casualty before the kick-off following neck surgery, and a settled half-back pairing can be found, then McNamara's men could find themselves on the trophy trail again.
Phil Clarke's one to watch - Rikki Sheriffe
Eight tries in 22 games at Harlequins last year doesn't tell us the full story about the potential of this player. Elusive and fast are two of the greatest attributes any player can have in rugby league and he has them both.
At just 24, he has a great chance to establish himself as an England winger this year, and should still be there for the next World Cup in 2013.
