In-form Paul Sykes insists the out-of-sorts Bulls can still reach the Super League play-offs.

The club are in danger of missing out on the end-of-season jamboree for the first time in their history.

After Friday’s loss at Salford City Reds, they lie second bottom at the halfway stage, five points adrift of the top eight.

But centre Sykes maintains: “I think we can get there. We’ve played 13 games but there are still a lot of points to be won.

“We’ll be doing our best every week to start picking up some more victories and I think once we get on a roll we’ll be fine.

“We were on top for the majority of the game against Salford and came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half.

“But a couple of poor decisions by the ref, disallowing some tries, and dropping the ball over the line probably changed the course of the game.

“It is frustrating but it’s part and parcel of the game nowadays. There are no easy matches.

“We know what we need to do to pick up wins and it’s just a couple of little blips that’s costing us.”

Sykes bagged a brace at The Willows and, having not got over in his first ten Super League games this season, has now scored six tries in his last three matches.

That sort of prolific form could see the former Harlequins man catch the attention of England boss Tony Smith in time for the Paris clash with France on June 13.

Sykes, in Smith’s World Cup squad last autumn but not named recently in England’s elite training group, said: “I’m scoring a few but it means nothing unless you’re winning.

“At the moment it really doesn’t mean anything. As for England, I’m not really focused on that. I’m focused on my club, doing well for them and picking up some wins. The rest isn’t really in my mind.”

With the Bulls out of the Challenge Cup, they have no fixture this weekend.

Sykes, 27, admits: “After what happened at Salford, I think all the boys would have preferred to be straight back out there playing as soon as possible.

“But now we’ll have to get back training, have some really hard days there and then get back ready for Wakefield a week on Sunday.”

Sykes’ current hot streak started with a hat-trick in the Murrayfield win over the Wildcats three weeks ago.

Bradford have lost against Celtic Crusaders and Salford since but he will be hoping that meeting John Kear’s side again – this time at Odsal – will see the same result and a much-needed return to winning ways.