The roar at Odsal Stadium on Friday night was more than just a celebration of a rugby league victory—it was the sound of a city reclaiming its sporting pride. After a 12-year absence from the Super League, the Bradford Bulls made their long-awaited homecoming an unforgettable one, dispatching the Catalans Dragons 28-10 in front of an electric crowd of 9,992. For the Bulls faithful, this wasn’t just another win; it was a statement that Bradford rugby is well and truly back in the big time.
Waqa Blake, the man affectionately dubbed the Fijian flyer, continued his dazzling start to the 2026 campaign, notching two tries to bring his season tally to four in just two games. Blake’s form has been nothing short of sensational. In the Bulls’ first top flight fixture in over a decade the previous week, he opened the scoring with a try after just six minutes and set up three others, including two for Connor Wynne. His performance against Hull FC, though ending in a narrow defeat, put the league on notice that Bradford’s return was no fluke. "I think we’ve turned a lot of heads, teams will give us a bit more respect not only for that performance but for the Bulls to be back as a team," Blake reflected after the Hull match. "It’s good to be back and for the fans but they enjoyed it out there, they came over in numbers and kept us going until the end."
If the Hull game earned respect, the Catalans clash demanded it. The Bulls, under the guidance of head coach Kurt Haggerty, showed poise and hunger from the opening whistle. Absorbing early pressure from the Dragons, the home side struck first when hooker Andy Ackers twisted his way over from close range, igniting the Odsal crowd. Rowan Milnes kept the scoreboard ticking with three penalty goals, punishing Catalans for repeated errors and giving Bradford a commanding 24-0 lead at halftime. When Blake finished off a flowing team move to score his first try of the night, the stadium erupted. It was a moment that felt like a turning of the tide, a flashback to the Bulls’ glory days.
Caleb Aekins, cool and composed at fullback, added another try before the break, slicing through the French defense to cap a near-perfect first half. The Bulls’ passing was sharp, their defense stifling, and their energy infectious. Joe Mellor, newly installed as captain, orchestrated the attack with precision, while Ryan Sutton anchored the pack with a tireless, 50-minute stint that set the tone for the rest of the squad. Ackers, too, was immense, playing 65 unbroken minutes and setting the standard from dummy-half. As the teams headed into the sheds, the sense of anticipation was palpable. Could the Bulls keep their foot on the gas?
The second half brought its own challenges. Catalans, stung by their first-half woes, capitalized on a loose pass from Ethan Ryan as Solomona Faataape raced in to score. Moments later, another Bradford error allowed Toby Sexton to cross the line, trimming the lead and giving the Dragons a glimmer of hope. But the Bulls refused to panic. Defensive resilience and fitness, praised by Haggerty post-match, came to the fore. "I really enjoyed the first half. I really enjoyed parts of the second half, particularly defensively. We were really sloppy with the ball in the second half, but I liked how we turned Catalans away. We showed how fit we are... and how far we have come in a short space of time," Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds.
Any Catalans comeback was firmly quashed when Blake, ever the opportunist, latched onto Ethan Ryan’s palm back and powered over for his second try. The Bulls’ defense, led by standout efforts from Connor Wynne—who produced a brilliant try-saving tackle on Tommy Makinson—and Zac Fulton, held firm despite some late Dragons pressure. The video referee denied Esan Marsters a late try, but by then, the result was beyond doubt. The Odsal faithful, nearly 10,000 strong, basked in the glow of a famous victory, fireworks lighting up the Bradford sky as memories of past glories mingled with hope for the future.
Rowan Milnes’ six goals, including three from penalties, underlined the Bulls’ discipline and ability to capitalize on opposition mistakes. The final whistle brought scenes of jubilation, with players and fans alike savoring a night that had been over a decade in the making. For many, it was an emotional return—a reminder of what the Super League has been missing since 2014. "I just want to shout out the Bradford fans they are amazing, even in my first year in the Championship and then to see them at Hull, it was a big occasion and all praise to them," said Blake, echoing the sentiments of a city that has waited far too long for nights like this.
Coach Haggerty, while delighted with the result, was quick to remind his side that this is just the beginning. "We’ve proved we can put in back-to-back performances now," he said. "We’ve shown that we’re here to have a dig in Super League. Ultimately, we lost the big moments at Hull, whereas we won a lot of those tonight. I think it’s an ongoing process for us, because we’re a brand-new team, so I don’t know what it looks like in the big moments yet. We’re figuring it out as we go, so I’ll cop it for now if we’re conceding after getting a few scores ahead, but we’ll learn and we’ll get better. We’ll be in closer games, we’ll be chasing some games, it’s learning what that looks like in different moments."
Indeed, there’s a sense that this Bulls side, brimming with new faces and renewed ambition, is still finding its identity. The likes of Aekins, Wynne, Marsters, and Milnes all drew praise for their performances, while homegrown talents like Elliot Peposhi and Ebon Scurr showed they’re ready to step up. The blend of experience and youth, guided by a coach determined to instill belief and resilience, bodes well as the season unfolds.
Elsewhere in the league, the night saw Maika Sivo make a triumphant return for Leeds Rhinos after a year out with an ACL injury, scoring twice in a 46-14 win over York Knights. But for Bradford, all eyes are firmly on the road ahead. A tough test against Toulouse looms, and Haggerty is keen to keep his squad grounded. "You can’t just peak because we’ve got a good crowd at Odsal. We’ll certainly won’t be happy, we’ll address the second half, we’ll fix it."
For now, though, the Bulls and their supporters can savor a night that felt like a new dawn. The fireworks have faded, but the message is clear: Bullmania is back, and Bradford’s Super League story is only just beginning.