BRADFORD BULLS head coach Francis Cummins has included a quartet of new signings as part of a 24-man squad to face Hull FC this weekend.

Lee Gaskell (pictured above), Adam Henry, Garreth Carvell and Luke George, who have each spent the past three months in pre-season training alongside their Provident Stadium colleagues, are all in-line to debut this weekend as the Bulls make their first appearance of the year.

Also featuring in the friendly action are Rugby League World Cup stars Elliot Kear and Danny Addy, who each impressed during last year's tournament for Wales and Scotland respectively.

Boss Cummins has named a strong squad for Sunday's clash, which is scheduled to get underway at 3pm.

A host of young talent is also to appear, with rising stars Alex Mellor, Oliver Roberts, Nathan Conroy, Sam Wood and under-19s ace Adam Brook all in the frame, as well as Warrington Wolves loanees James Saltonstall and Joe Philbin.

Tickets for the clash are still available both online and over the phone, or from the stadium ticket office, and are priced at £15 (adults), £10 (concessions) and £5 (juniors).

Bradford Bulls squad to face Hull FC on Sunday, January 19 (kick-off 3pm):

Lee Gaskell
Elliot Kear
Adam Henry
Adrian Purtell
Jamie Foster
Jarrod Sammut
Luke Gale
Garreth Carvell
Adam O'Brien
Nick Scruton
Tom Olbison
Danny Addy
James Donaldson
Manase Manuokafoa
Adam Sidlow
Luke George
Nathan Conroy
Alex Mellor
Oliver Roberts
Chev Walker
Sam Wood
Adam Brook
Joe Philbin
James Saltonstall

[url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/article/8812/bulls-new-boys-set-to-debutLINK[/url

It appears that they're named in position order for the first 13, so it looks like Gaskell is going to be at fullback.

Gaskell at FB until BK is fit I would expect.

I'd prefer Kear, with George and Foster on the wings.

Looking at Gaskell last year, his last man 1 on 1 defending was really poor. Kear is safe under the high ball, his tackling is excellent and his attacking play is underrated.

Agreed. Gadkell is a stand off. He could flourish in that position! Massive pre-season for Gale. If he doesn't produce I'd like to see Gaskell and Sammut at 6 & 7. Just hoping Franny making him VC doesn't make him indeapensible at half back.

Didn't Kear recently say in an article that he doesn't want to play fullback?
I agree in that he showed up well in the WC when he played fullback for Wales, but if he'd rather play on the wing then fair enough.

I also think Gaskell deserves a shot at fullback while Kearney is injured. He might not be the best defensively, but he was one of Salford's most consistent attacking threats last season, scored a bunch of tries and won a few motm awards in the process. I'd like to see how he goes at fullback for us, even if it's only in these friendlies.

I too think Kear would be a good option at full-back but I haven't seen Gaskell playing at full-back yet. We have so much versatility this year with players being able to play in multiple positions.

I seem to remember an interview with Kear where he stated that he preferred playing FB, the only thing was FC said his attacking play was a little 'Raw' as he's fairly new to the game - This was last year when Kearney was injured, but Franny went with Foster.

Has ferguson picked up a knock? Only one not in squad and not previously mentioned as injured.

Edit: ferguson and Blythe with knocks. Just seen t&a article. Blythe's cut thumb must be nasty if he's gonna miss all the friendlies. Good news is sounds like BK ok for start of season.

He was also in the T&A in the last week or so though saying he hopes to cement the right wing spot. Said something like he thinks of himself as a fullback really, but he just wants to play one regular position all the time. Will happily fill in for other people, but would like a steady regular place in one position, and right wing was his mention.

Unless I dreamed it.

Getting the wolf cub on loan seems to have been a good idea, let's us thin out the squad with us missing a couple of players.

Any news on George? Though he would have started.

Luke George? He's in the squad isn't he? Pretty much guarantees him some game time I think.

Oops my mistake lost his name in amongst them all, is it just me or would any one else like to see Sammut at hooker?

As much as you need a little explosivity at times (is that even a word?), I think you need a steady head at hooker too. Sammut is too unpredictable for 9 IMO. Dummy Half is essentially the man choosing the direction of the play every tackle, so you don't want someone who doesn't know himself what he's going to do, nevermind his teammates. If we were to move any half to hooker, I'd prefer Gale.

That's not to say I don't want Sammut going in at dummy half occasionally to mix things up. Just not 4 or 5 times in a set.

Isn't he banned as a result of his WC punishment?

Said in t&a that he had a knock but your correct he misses a friendly for World Cup ban. Think it counts towards ban even though he's injured.

Is pay on gate available for Sunday?. Pretty certain it was mentioned on website originally but all recent press releases have just mentioned tickets still being available. Imagine that's just club trying to get money in ASAP.

I'm sure it will be. If it's not, they'll lose out on a lot of money, so it would be crazy not to.

If you go on the ticket website, you can only buy tickets for the middle sections of the stand. Suggests they are reserved pre-bought tickets, whereas the outer sections are for unreserved pay-on-the-day.

Cant wait for Sunday, in my book the rl season starts this weekend. Its back to the emotional roller-coaster of supporting the club. Having spent the last couple of months watching numerous hidings in the ashes, the odd bit of football and various other trash over xmas (the darts was belting though!) i really need my rl fix.

Lets hope Sunday is the start of us getting the club back on track !!

A good game with no injuries will do me

Also what a refreshing change there has been no bad news coming out of Odsal this week.Really looking forward to going to the game tomorrow and having a couple of pints

Any predictions for today?. Think once were into season proper were pretty evenly matched with hull. That said think theyll benefit from hit out last week and be a bit more match fit so hull by 12

Not too fussed about the result really, and I am never sure what to expect from Hull. I'll be glad if we come through it with no injuries and the debutants get their hands on the ball plenty.

24 - 0 to Bulls HT