EBON Scurr, one of the young guns who helped Bradford Bulls to their 20-14 victory at Castleford Tigers on Boxing Day, says that the less experienced players in John Kear's squad will get first-team opportunities if they prove themselves.

The 19-year-old, whose only taste of competitive action for the Bulls came in their 50-6 defeat at Barrow Raiders in the 1895 Cup in June, was one of four reserve-grade squad members in the line-up for the visitors at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

The teenage prop, who was vying for the Bulls' man-of-the-match honours at Cas with full back Brandon Pickersgill and stand-off Rowan Milnes, said: "Youth development is a big part of Bradford, and John Kear has given the young lads a chance.

"Also the senior players are giving us all that we need and it is up to us really."

At this fledgling stage of the campaign, a win at a Super League club, albeit also one fielding an experimental side, is gratifying, but perhaps even more important is the level of team performance.

Scurr said: "It was good to get the win but we were really looking to get the systems right, and I thought that we did that very well.

"It was more important for the team to get used to each other because we have some new signings and a lot of young lads, and I thought all the young lads did well to lead us in every aspect.

"Everyone did not turn off and everyone was raring to go. Everyone was working to empty their tanks and there were not any lazy players.

"Everyone was rushing up and rushing back and everyone did their piece and that helped towards the victory."

Scurr also knows the benefit of having more experienced players to learn from in the Bulls line-up.

He said: "I am just trying my best to help the team out by doing what I can, getting a fast play-the-ball and playing off the back of that.

"It was a big help to have natural leaders like Steve Crossley and Ingy (Anthony England) around to help me progress my game.

"Senior forwards like Sam Hallas, Ingy and Steve Crossley have been a big part of us getting to where we are today and it would be more of a struggle without them.

"You look up to them, see what they do right and it helps with your progression.

"There were a lot of natural leaders that stepped up and we bonded very well as a team."

As for the near future and what he can improve on, the teenager admitted: "I would like to get more first-team games but it just depends when John Kear thinks that I am ready to play in them and I am just going to try and progress under him.

"I put full trust into John Kear and the coaching staff to progress me to the next level.

"There is a lot of improvement in me such as game fitness and the overall physicality, which will come with time, and there are a lot of areas that I need to improve on and after Castleford I will be asking what those are."