Kiwi stars Henry and Robbie Paul have received a massive boost ahead of next month's Challenge Cup final against Leeds.

Super League have called off Bradford Bulls' match at Wigan on April 24 because the game would have been just five days before the final.

That gives the Paul brothers extra time to recover from the rigours of travelling half-way around the world to play for New Zealand.

The Pauls were originally due to play in the Anzac Day Test in Australia on April 21 before jetting back to play at Wigan - just five days before the Challenge Cup final in Murrayfield.

Coach Matthew Elliott said: "It is a tremendous boost for the players and a great relief for the club.

"To ask Robbie and Henry to travel to Australia and back as well as playing a Test match, a tough league game and a Challenge Cup final all in eight days was an incredible ask.

"It would have made a mockery of the cup final to have two such influential players being forced into action after such a punishing schedule.

"I know that Robbie and Henry were two very relieved fellas when we told them that the Wigan match was off.

"It is also good from the team's point of view because it means we have an eight-day break between playing London Broncos at Odsal on Good Friday and facing Leeds in the final."

Bulls' match at Hull on May 2 is also to be moved - to May 3.

There was another boost for the Bulls yesterday when the Rugby Football League decided they would take no action against prop Paul Anderson who was placed on report for a high tackle in the last minute of Saturday's 44-20 semi-final win over Warrington at Headingley. Wolves' star Toa Kohe-Love has also been cleared.

"That's good news," said Elliott. "It was a very tired tackle and Paul knows it was careless. Thankfully he is not going to face any punishment for it."

Elliott is making a determined effort to keep his players away from all the cup-final fervor which has built up among the fans.

"This is probably the last time you will hear me talking about it until the week itself," he quipped. "I have to focus on our Super League games and put the cup to the back of my mind."

Tickets went on sale to Bulls' season-ticket holders yesterday and there were queues for much of the day as 8,500 were sold.

Today the remaining tickets went on open sale and club chairman Chris Caisley said: "It is a tremendous response but I can only reiterate my apologies to the many fans who will be disappointed. The allocation of 12,500 is insufficient for our support."

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