Bradford Bulls forward ready for load as Keighley loom

With Jordan Baldwinson injured, Josh Johnson joining Oldham, Bodene Thompson returning to New Zealand and Brad England facing a two-match ban, Butler, so often on the sidelines himself in the past, faces a test of his leadership skills.

He told the T&A: “I’ve played all over here, at loose forward, back row and centre.

“I think the last three games at second row was the first time all season I’ve played three consecutively in the same position.

“Back row is where I’m best but put me at prop and I’m happy to do the job, I’ll play wherever I’m needed.

“I’ve got a bit more experience than some of the younger lads so I can give them help and provide discipline, which you need in heated derbies.”

That will be the case tomorrow when play-off chasing Bulls host relegation-threatened Keighley at Odsal, with Butler saying: “A derby is a derby at the end of the day.

“It is what it says on the tin, two local teams going at each other.

“Facing Fax means 10 times more to me than any other game, as it’s where I started my career and they have a massive rivalry with Bradford.

“But still with Cougars, the environment and build up is just different.

“When we last faced them, there were only a few thousand fans there, but you couldn’t hear a thing because of the noise when the teams came out.

“It’s often family members against family members and you want to play in those games.”

Bulls' fans saw their team impress against Keighley in the Summer Bash at the end of May. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Butler is set to start an eighth consecutive game tomorrow for just the second time at Bulls, having had a few niggly injuries in his year and a half here, following over two years on the sidelines at previous club Huddersfield.

He reflected: “Ever since coming to Bradford, I’ve been starting more games.

“I think I played 20-odd last year if you include pre-season and internationals with Wales.

“I’ve carried a lot of momentum over from 2022 and this year I had a good pre-season and I’ve felt fresh.

“I’ve had a few niggles but I’ve only missed four games.

“My body feels good. I’ve been back for seven matches now and I’m feeling better with each game.”

Butler’s fellow second-rower Thompson is another who has been suffering from niggles this season, and he is leaving the club to return home for personal reasons after tomorrow’s derby.

The loss of Bodene Thompson will be keenly felt at Bulls. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

A saddened Butler said: “Bodene’s had his injuries this year and he’s not played as many games as he’d have liked.

“But you don’t even need him playing for him to have an impact.

“His presence in training and on and off the field is enough and his knowledge has been valuable for the younger lads.

“On the pitch, he’s got a great engine and he’s smart in the game, with the way he holds his discipline. He’s fantastic to play with.

“A lot of our defeats this season have been because we’ve lost our heads and given penalties away.

“It’s something we know we need to work on because the best teams are the most disciplined ones.

“Bodene has been great at helping with things like that.”