The Odsal terraces were alive with anticipation and nostalgia on Friday night as the Bradford Bulls made their long-awaited return to Super League action on home soil. After a 12-year absence from the top flight, the Bulls delivered a performance to remember, defeating Catalans Dragons 28-10 in front of a raucous crowd of 9,992. The win wasn’t just a result; it was a statement—the Bulls are back, and so is the roar of Bullmania in West Yorkshire.
From the opening whistle, the energy inside Odsal was electric. Supporters, many of whom had waited more than a decade for this moment, filled the stands with hope and expectation. The Bulls, under the guidance of head coach Kurt Haggerty, responded with a display brimming with confidence, intensity, and a touch of Super League class that harked back to the club’s glory days.
Bradford wasted little time in stamping their authority on the contest. Hooker Andy Ackers, who would go on to earn rave reviews for his leadership and relentless work from dummy-half, opened the scoring with a determined effort close to the line. Ackers twisted and powered his way through Catalans’ defense after Joe Mellor kept the play alive, sending the Odsal faithful into an early frenzy. "He scored the opening try and led from the front with perfection. He will thrive under the new rules," one post-match analysis noted, and it was hard to argue.
Rowan Milnes, the Bulls’ composed half-back, then took center stage. Capitalizing on a string of Catalans errors, Milnes coolly slotted two penalty goals from right in front, extending the lead and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The Dragons looked shell-shocked, unable to find a way through a resolute Bradford defense marshaled expertly by Joe Mellor, who has already been described as "an absolute masterstroke from Haggerty to not only bring him to the Bulls, but make him captain and deploy him at 13."
The pivotal moment of the first half came after a video referee decision denied Catalans what they thought was a try—Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui appeared to have grounded the ball, but the officials ruled otherwise. The reprieve galvanized the Bulls, and moments later, Milnes added a third penalty goal to make it 12-0. The home side were in full flow, and the crowd sensed something special might be on the cards.
Bradford’s attacking prowess was soon on display in spectacular fashion. A sweeping move from right to left saw full-back Caleb Aekins break the line with a sublime pass from Luke Hooley, setting up Waqa Blake to race away for his first try of the night. "Who had money on Blake being Super League’s top try-scorer at this stage? Already answering a few critics that might have suggested he couldn’t step back up to the top-flight after that disappointing year with St Helens," a pundit remarked. The Bulls weren’t finished. Just before the break, Aekins darted through a gap left by the Catalans’ front row for another try, and with Milnes’ boot remaining flawless, Bradford took a commanding 24-0 lead into halftime.
The second half began with a twist. The Dragons, desperate to salvage something, pounced on a loose Bradford pass—Ethan Ryan’s error was seized upon by Solomona Faataape, who dashed over for Catalans’ first points. Suddenly, the visitors had a sniff, and when another Bulls mistake allowed Toby Sexton to cross the whitewash, the deficit was cut to 14 points. The momentum seemed to be shifting, and for a brief moment, the Odsal crowd held its breath.
But this new-look Bulls side was in no mood to let the occasion slip. Defensive heroics from Connor Wynne, who produced a brilliant try-saving tackle on Tommy Makinson, ensured the Dragons couldn’t claw their way back further. The video referee was called into action again, this time denying Esan Marsters what would have been a sensational try for Bradford after Ethan Ryan’s break. Still, the Bulls pressed on, and the clincher arrived when Waqa Blake, combining neatly with Ethan Ryan and Rowan Milnes, powered over for his second try of the evening.
Milnes finished the night with six goals, orchestrating play with a maturity and poise that belied the occasion. The Bulls’ pack, led by Ryan Sutton—who "did over 50 minutes without a breather to start the game"—and ably supported by Loghan Lewis and Zac Fulton, provided the platform for the backs to shine. Substitute Ebon Scurr made a significant impact in the closing stages, while homegrown talent Elliot Peposhi and Mitch Souter showed they are more than ready for the Super League stage.
The final whistle brought scenes of jubilation rarely seen at Odsal in recent years. Fireworks lit up the night sky, fans embraced, and the players took a well-deserved lap of honor. For many, this was a night to savor—not just for the result, but for the hope it reignited in a club and a city with a proud rugby league heritage.
Elsewhere in the Betfred Super League, the action was just as lively. At Headingley, Leeds Rhinos cruised to a 46-14 victory over York Knights, with Fijian winger Maika Sivo marking his return from a season-long ACL injury by scoring twice. Over the Pennines, St Helens edged Leigh Leopards 20-18 in a thriller, despite losing Nene Macdonald and Jonny Lomax to injury. But at Odsal, the night belonged to Bradford.
As the dust settled, coach Kurt Haggerty reflected on a job well done, but there was no sense of complacency. The Bulls have set the bar high, and with the likes of Ackers, Blake, Milnes, and Mellor firing, supporters will be dreaming of more memorable nights ahead. The Super League journey has only just begun for Bradford, but with performances like this, the future looks bright—and the Odsal roar is back where it belongs.