EMMA KENNEDY tells the story of the Bulls’ 2026 season.
THE HOPE
Fireworks lit up the sky, scarves were held aloft and the terraces were packed as Bradford made their long-awaited return to Super League for the first time in twelve years on an exciting night at Odsal.
It was an evening of pure celebration for the Bulls after the dark days of administration, relegation and liquidation during their top-flight absence, culminating in a well-deserved 28-10 victory over the Dragons that showed enough promise of a campaign that could re-ignite their trophy-winning heyday.
THE REALITY
Though there were flashes of brilliance under new coach Kurt Haggerty, Bradford’s season, barring victory over hapless Castleford in their final home game, ultimately faded with a whimper as they came away with the dreaded wooden spoon.
Haggerty was quick to admit it was a label he never wanted for the club, and it is one that only adds fuel to the suggestion in some quarters that they should be replaced by London Broncos in the top-flight next year.
But were the Bulls just unlucky with the hand they were dealt, or is their last-place finish partly one of their own making? The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.
Yes, they have faced an unprecedented injury crisis that has reduced them to the bare bones of their squad, having to throw some of their youngsters in at the deep end perhaps a bit too soon in the process, but they are not alone in that, and it cannot be the sole reason that they ended up at the bottom of the pile.
Though their effort was clear to see, they didn’t help themselves by ill-discipline, which ultimately proved their downfall.
Having often tired by the last quarter after front-loading their energy in the opening half, the Bulls conceded a myriad of six-agains, and the most penalties and errors of any team – a leg-up that can not expect to go unpunished in Super League.
Perhaps the most damming reflection on their season is that they were outperformed over the season by both York and Toulouse, who were both promoted alongside them from the Championship and who defied expectations on half the central funding that was allocated to the Bulls.
BEST PLAYERS
Ryan Sutton returned from the NRL’s Canterbury Bulldogs after suffering a serious knee injury to play almost eighty minutes, week-in, week-out, in the front row. Impressing with his carries and work rate, the prop made over 900 tackles across the course of the season.
Captain Joe Mellor has also been a bright spark, marshaling the side well despite negotiating a new role at loose forward.
IN QUOTES
“I didn’t want it for the club, I didn’t want it for the players, the staff or anybody to have that tag in the first year. Especially after how we started, with having near enough a full-strength team and what we could do. I don’t want to make excuses, I’m not that kind of coach. But I didn’t want that tag for the club.” Kurt Haggerty after the Bulls’ final round defeat at York confirmed they would finish bottom of the pile.
“It gives me goosebumps thinking about running back out at Odsal – it’s been a long time since I did that in a Bradford shirt… I am a Bradford lad, and this city means more to me than anything. I want us to win games, I want us to finish in the top six, and I want the city to pack out Odsal watching big games.” John Bateman on returning to his hometown club from 2027.
“You can’t just peak in round one because you got a good crowd at Odsal, the narrative there is set already. To do this in rounds one and two is good, but can we do it in round 28? That’s what I’ll put to the team.” Kurt Haggerty after Bradford’s astonishing win over Catalans
IN NUMBERS
20 – league defeats for the Bulls, leaving them two points adrift at the foot of the table
194 and 304 – penalties and errors conceded, the most of any Super League team
111,006 – the total number of supporters to pass through the gates at Odsal this season
8,539 – the Bulls’ average attendance
HIGHLIGHT
Most Bradford fans would simply say having Super League rugby back at Odsal after periods of real uncertainty during their spell out of the big time. Though the stadium certainly has its critics, there is nothing quite like the atmosphere generated at the famous bowl, especially when fans of the likes of Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors pack out the terraces.
LOWLIGHTS
The Bulls just didn’t turn up in heavy defeats to both Wakefield and Leigh. At Trinity, they were left with a mountain to climb almost immediately. Tom Johnstone scored a hat-trick inside the opening 18 minutes, before Oliver Pratt bagged his own treble in the second half as Bradford’s narrow defence was ruthlessly exploited. Zac Fulton and Elliot Peposhi both crossed, but those proved nothing more than a consolation.
The collapse to Leigh came four months later as the Leopards ran riot to record a club record top-flight win. Bradford had performed admirably to trail just 14-4 at half-time but, in the story of their season, they imploded thereafter, conceding 48 unanswered points in an eventual 62-10 thrashing.
LOOKING AHEAD
The main aim for the Bulls in 2027 is clear: do not finish at the bottom for a second successive year. There will be wholesale squad changes over the close-season, whilst new backroom staff will hope to avoid a repeat of the injury crisis that has beleaguered Bradford’s campaign.
Chris Atkin, Guy Armitage and Dan Russell are among those who will depart, alongside mid-season recruits Riley Dean and Phoenix Steinwede, whilst World Cup finalist Ligi Sao, Wigan youngster Sam Eseh and James Bentley are all heading to Odsal from 2027, to be joined by Bradford products Cameron Scott and John Bateman in a return to their hometown club.