Bradford Bulls pros and cons in Championship play-off race

Last season, there was a big gulf between the top six and the rest, with Bulls limping home to finish a dreadful ninth.

They have improved markedly in the last 12 months and currently sit third, yet their spot in the end of season lottery is still by no means guaranteed, let alone that fourth-placed finish which would guarantee them a home play-off.

Three wins out of three in August gives them a five-point buffer, but they still need two wins from four to seal a play-off spot and three from four to finish in the top four.

So let’s have a look at the pros and cons of Bulls’ current position, with all of Sheffield, London, Batley, Widnes, Halifax and York still hunting them down…

PRO: POINTS ON THE BOARD

The most obvious positive is that the situation is in Bulls’ hands.

Sat on 29 points, other teams are having to do the chasing, knowing that one slip up could prove fatal for their play-off hopes.

Bulls' win over Swinton has given them some breathing space in the top six. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

And though Bulls will want to secure as high a finishing position as quickly as possible, they have more room for manoeuvre than their rivals, such as this weekend at home to runaway league leaders Featherstone.

CON: TRICKY FIXTURES

Bradford were not at their best against bottom two Newcastle and Swinton at the end of last month, but those back-to-back wins feel crucial given who is up next.

Bulls’ four remaining games all come against other members of that top nine, so there will be a real step up in quality.

Their last two games are away from home too, and it could get hairy if Lee Greenwood’s side travel to London and Sheffield needing something to secure their goal, whether that be top-six or top-four.

Bulls were superb in beating London Broncos in the reverse fixture, but that promises to be a tough away day later this month if the pressure is still on. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

By contrast, fierce rivals Halifax still have to play Whitehaven, Keighley and Swinton, all of whom are deep in relegation trouble.

PRO: FORM AT THE RIGHT TIME

Bulls are coming off the back of a run of fairly kind fixtures.

But four wins from their last five, while other teams have stumbled around them, have moved them into pole position in that race to be the best of the rest behind Featherstone and Toulouse.

The 42-6 win over Batley felt like a real statement, as they ripped their play-off rivals apart after the break at Mount Pleasant last month.

Compare Bradford to Batley, who are falling apart at present, with six defeats in a row, including the 1895 Cup final, as well as a shock loss at struggling Keighley and a massive home defeat to Sheffield last time out.

Though Bulls lost to Batley at Odsal, the reverse fixture last month was indicative of the way the pair's respective form is going at present. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

The Bulldogs have gone from a position of relative strength to clinging on to the sixth and final play-off spot.

CON: INJURIES, BANS AND RESHUFFLING

Chester Butler has been one of Bulls’ best players over the past two years, but a fractured hand has kept him out for several weeks now, and Bradford will have to hope he hits the ground running if he does return against York as hoped.

Ben Blackmore’s ongoing back issue is a concern, and Bulls will be hoping it doesn’t flare up again, with his fellow winger Jorge Taufua banned until the end of the regular season.

Jorge Taufua's ban has forced some reshuffling out on the wing. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Those two are clearly Greenwood’s preferred starting wingers, and while David Foggin-Johnston performed well at Swinton despite knowing he is moving to Keighley, Bulls will have to play someone in an unnatural position, like Connor Wynne, on the other flank if Blackmore and Taufua are both out.

Either that or do what they've done this weekend and bring in Liam Tindall on dual-registration, who while a talented winger, has not played for Bulls in months.

And if Bradford do make the play-offs, and DFJ performs well in the run-in, would Greenwood have a tricky decision to make with Taufua’s ban ending?

Joe Arundel has proved a capable back-rower in recent weeks too, but is undoubtedly a better fit at centre, and Bulls would surely prefer the experienced back to be in his usual position when it comes to the run-in.

PRO: GOOD FORM AT ODSAL

Featherstone will provide the biggest test of the season in BD6 for Bulls today.

But Bradford have only lost twice their all season, and have turned a venue full of 2022 nightmares into one lit up by great moments in 2023.

Stunning Toulouse there was arguably the highlight of the season, but there was also them punching hugely in-form Sheffield on the nose, scoring a last-gasp try to down Widnes, and the revenge humiliation of Keighley.

Bulls' home win over Widnes went right to the wire. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Bulls have clearly found a way to win at Odsal, and with potentially 5,000 fans behind them for the home games against Featherstone and York in the next week, those final two away games could even be something of a free hit.

All in all, Bulls look a good bet to claim that top-six berth and should *probably* only need two wins from four to seal a top-four finish.

But as is always the case in sport, never take anything for granted unless it is mathematically certain.