HE may not have attracted as much attention as some of their other signings but Chris Bridge could prove to have been Wolves' most important new arrival during 2005.

Signed from Bradford Bulls for £24,000 in January, Bridge grabbed fewer headlines than more high profile players such as Martin Gleeson and Logan Swann when he joined Paul Cullen's squad.

But with a highly impressive debut season under his belt and still only 21 years old, Bridge has the potential to be one of Wolves' leading lights for years to come.

Cullen has already tipped the Huddersfield Giants Academy graduate, who has been selected for England's end of season train-on squad, for Great Britain honours in the future, and it is easy to see why after the year he has had.

Despite missing the start of the season with an ankle injury, Bridge quickly established himself in the first team and now Cullen says he simply cannot leave him out.

He has had to be versatile, having played at stand off, scrum half, left centre and left wing at various times during the year.

But a return of eight tries and 153 points in his first full season in Super League, including 24 points during a stunning return to Odsal in May, have marked him out as one to be watched.

Even Andrew Johns' arrival did not oust him from the starting line-up, with Bridge - a stand off by trade - taking up a role on the left wing in the last few games of the season.

It is not somewhere Bridge sees himself playing in the long term, although he has been willing to help out in the absence of Dean Gaskell and the departed Graham Appo.

But his sights are firmly set on earning a regular spot in the side as a half back, and he hopes to be competing with Michael Sullivan next year to replace Nathan Wood at scrum half.

He said: "Left wing's not my normal position but I'll do anything to help the team out.

"I just want to carry on getting in the team next year and playing well, and I hope I can establish myself at scrum half.

"Competition for places will be good next year because Cull's made a lot of good signings, so hopefully we'll have a good season next year."

Saturday's defeat to Hull was a brutal end to such a promising season for Bridge, and he admits it was hard to take.

He said: "It was very disappointing and it's the worst feeling I've had in my career.

"I thought we would win, but things just didn't go right for us and I think it was just one of those games when the bounce of the ball went their way.

"It's been a good season really, but I just wish it could have ended in a different way.

"It's been my first full season playing every week and I've enjoyed it and I hope to do better next year.

"I was hoping to establish myself when I signed so I've been pleased with how things have gone really, but I hope there's a lot more still to come."