JOE Bullock believes there are plenty more home-grown players in the Betfred Championship capable of making the step up to Super League.

Four impressive seasons for Barrow Raiders saw the prop snapped up by Wigan Warriors and he is currently in pre-season training with the defending Super League champions.

Ex-Raiders team-mate Chris Hankinson is at Wigan too after being signed from Swinton Lions midway through 2018 and Bullock expects more top-flight clubs to scour the lower leagues.

“If you look at the Championship, it has got better every year,” Bullock told the Wigan Post.

“Last season London and Toronto were in there, both full-time clubs, and then you have Bradford and Halifax as well. It’s a strong league.

“So I think a lot of teams will look to the lower leagues for players, especially as there are English players there who could step up, rather than look to overseas for players.”

Meanwhile, Hankinson is aiming to force his way back into contention after recovering from a detached retina towards the end of the 2018 campaign.

“I had a great opportunity, I knew I had game time in front of me which I knew I could have tried to cement a spot, especially coming up to the business end of the year,” said Hankinson.

“I just wanted to impress really, so it was a hit – but it happens and you get on with it.”