CHESTER Butler admits it is “all or nothing” for Bulls now, and says it is “frustratingly exciting” that the Odsal side are in this position.

Back-to-back home defeats to Featherstone and York have left Bradford needing to win their final two games, tricky away trips to in-form rivals London Broncos and Sheffield, to guarantee a spot in the Betfred Championship play-offs.

Butler returned to the side on Sunday against York after a lengthy absence with a broken hand, admitting he took a risk in coming back so early, in order to try and help Bulls finish in the top-six.

He told the T&A: “It was a bit of a shame to get that injury, but that’s rugby league for you.

“At the hospital, they said I’d be out for 10 to 12 weeks, but I came back in eight.

“I wouldn’t have had the rest of the season on the field otherwise, so I came back early and thought I did quite well.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Chester Butler had a good run of games earlier in the season, and will hope to remain in the team until the end of the season now.Chester Butler had a good run of games earlier in the season, and will hope to remain in the team until the end of the season now. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

“It’s been super frustrating sat on the sidelines, so I took a risk in coming back early, but I wanted to be there for the team to get them into the play-offs and Super League.

“I didn’t want to look back on this season having stayed sat out and left it too late to get back in the team.

“If this had been eight years ago at the start of my career in the Championship, I might have played it safe.

“But I’ve got that experience in decision-making now, and I know my body. It was a thoroughly thought-out decision to declare myself fit.”

Butler was back in from the start against York, despite having been absent since the win over Whitehaven in mid-July, and he said: “It was good to have that show of faith from the coaches to put me in the starting line-up.

“I’d been back in training for two weeks, but only one of contact.

“There’s a lot of competition in the team now, except maybe on the wing where we’ve been unlucky with injuries.

“That competition extends to the forward pack and I had to put the hard work in to get back in the side.”

Butler felt the effort, quality and technical side of Bulls’ game was all there against York, but that silly errors and penalty concessions cost them in the 20-10 defeat.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: It was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Bulls at home to York last Sunday.It was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Bulls at home to York last Sunday. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

He confirmed Lee Greenwood and Brian Noble had hammered that point home in the Monday debrief, which hopefully means there will be no repeat at London this Sunday.

Discussing the mood in camp, Butler said: “There’s excitement, because there’s no safety net now. We have to win our next two games to get in the play-offs.

“It’s frustratingly exciting though because we shouldn’t be in this position. We should have beaten York and we should have won more games than we have done.

“London are a different team now to when we last played them and beat them in June too.

“They’re a physical side, but with real quality too, so it’s going to be a really tough game.

“They’re in good form like (final-day opponents) Sheffield, but we know we’re in an all-or-nothing situation now.

“If we don’t win these games, we won’t make the play-offs, it’s as simple as that.”