BRADFORD BULLS 26 HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 14
PHIL CAPLAN, Bartercard Odsal, Friday

ONLY five rounds in and the battle of two squads approaching crisis point when it comes to being ravaged by injuries saw Bradford maintain their unbeaten home record with a third straight win.

They were made to work hard by a brave Huddersfield who put in their best display of the season but ran out of steam late.

Loans and signings meant seven debutants in total. Tray Lolesio, Chris Atkin and Jack Ormondroyd joined excellent Jayden Nikorima on his delayed start for the Bulls, and Huddersfield reached squad number 38 with the additions of Leeds trio Riley Lumb, Presley Cassell and Ned McCormack.

Giants, on the back of four straight defeats, could not have got off to a worse start, skipper Tui Lolohea sending the kick-off dead and the visitors penalised for a ball steal but, with Nikorima busy, Bulls ran on the last and tamely turned the ball over.

Oliver Russell’s high kicks started to cause problems, Caleb Aekens misfielding one in the sixth minute, Connor Wynne collecting in an offside position and Russell knocking over the two points from wide out.

Another Russell high kick saw Ethan Ryan taken into touch and, on the last, Lolohea’s grubber was blocked but Tanguy Zenon recovered the ball to dart over, only to be brought back for obstruction.

Jacob Gagai couldn’t reel in a Zenon pass as the Bulls line held defending five sets, Wynne going 70 metres in response but the move petering out as the ball was switched to the left.

That changed the momentum leading up to the break. Huddersfield unsuccessfully challenged Taane Milne playing at a Nikorima kick and, on the set from it, Luke Hooley was tackled off the ball but got up to slot over the two.

Hooley was then caught high by Zac Woolford as he looked for a gap ten metres out, and landed his second two-pointer in quick succession.

A high, shallow Hooley kick was allowed to bounce, Zenon losing the ball in contact and Wynne angling over, but the Bulls chasers were deemed offside and the try ruled out.

Bradford couldn’t capitalise on an Ed Chamberlain break down their right at the start of the second half as the Giants scrambled well.

In a game desperate for a try, it came from a mistake, Wynne failing to take in Russell’s high kick and Tristan Powell gathering to go over, with Russell goaling.

That opened the contest up. Lolohea conceded a seven-tackle set and from it Andy Ackers, on the runaround, sent Leon Ruan over, Atkin goaling from wide out to give the hosts the lead back just before the hour.

Again the Giants kicked long to give away a seven-tackle set and Nikorima punished them on the end of it with a debut try on a powerful run to the posts from ten metres out.

Twice Russell peppered Wynne and the Giants got the ball back, Aekins failing to clear the latter as it was allowed to bounce and Gagai touching down. Russell converted from the touchline to set up a nervy finish.

Ackers got Bradford back up field and Nikorima took on the line to send Hooley over in the corner with a fine pass.

Hooley hit the post with the goal attempt to keep it at a converted try difference, but it didn’t matter as Nikorima crowned a fine first performance with another determined run from close in to ensure the points in the final play in a scrappy encounter.

GAMESTAR: Two-try Jayden Nikorima was the difference on a very impressive debut.

GAMEBREAKER: Luke Hooley’s try four minutes from time just saw the Bulls preserve their home record in 2026.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: The almost 2,000 dancers who created a world record – for most backing dancers to a singer – before the game and at half-time, and set a tremendous atmosphere.

ALBERT GOLDTHORPE POINTS
3 pts Jayden Nikorima (Bradford)
2 pts Chris Patolo (Huddersfield)
1 pt Andy Ackers (Bradford)

MATCHFACTS

BULLS
1 Caleb Aekins
23 Connor Wynne
3 Esan Marsters
24 Guy Armitage
5 Ethan Ryan
6 Jayden Nikorima (D)
22 Luke Hooley
8 Ryan Sutton
9 Andy Ackers
33 Jack Ormondroyd (D)
17 Ed Chamberlain
30 Leon Ruan
13 Joe Mellor
Subs (all used)
14 Mitch Souter
21 Sam Hallas
31 Tray Lolesio (D)
32 Chris Atkin (D)
18th man (not used)
28 Jamie Gill
Also in 21-man squad
7 Rowan Milnes
26 Ronan Michael
27 Alfie Leake

Tries: Ruan (58), Nikorima (62, 79), Hooley (76)
Goals: Hooley 3/4, Atkin 2/2

GIANTS
29 Tanguy Zenon
38 Riley Lumb (D)
37 Ned McCormack (D)
3 Jacob Gagai
4 Taane Milne
6 Tui Lolohea
32 Oliver Russell
16 George King
9 Zac Woolford
10 Tom Burgess
11 Asher O’Donnell
23 Chris Patolo
8 Tristan Powell
Subs (all used)
14 Fenton Rogers
18 Kieran Rush
20 Mathieu Cozza
36 Presley Cassell (D)
18th man (not used)
22 Jack Billington
Also in 21-man squad
25 Jacob Algar
30 Monty Lumb
31 Alex Chippendale

Tries: Powell (53), Gagai (71)
Goals: Russell 3/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-2, 2-2, 4-2; 4-8, 10-8, 16-8, 16-14, 20-14, 26-14

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bulls: Jayden Nikorima; Giants: Chris Patolo

Penalty count: 10-8
Half-time: 4-2
Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 10,031