Bradford Bulls hurt increases as Odsal close to having MPG

London Broncos stunned leaders Featherstone in Sunday’s second semi-final, and given Bradford finished the regular season in third, with the side from the capital coming fifth, BD6 would have played host to this weekend’s shootout for Super League had Arundel and his team-mates produced their own surprise win in France.

Speaking to the T&A, the experienced centre said: “We were gutted after the game really, as we just let in a few soft tries that cost us.

“Toulouse were too good for us in the end but if you see the other result as well this weekend, we’d have had the opportunity of a home play-off final at Odsal if we’d won.

“It’d have been amazing, as our fans have been outstanding all year, so I’m gutted for them.

“It’d have been rewarding for them because they just make that difference in the Championship, with the numbers that follow us.

The Bradford Bulls fans have travelled in huge numbers to the likes of Whitehaven, London and Toulouse this season, and Bulls would have loved to have rewarded them with a home play-off final. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

“It just wasn’t to be in the end though.”

Arundel, along with Jorge Taufua and Keven Appo, scored Bulls’ tries in the South of France, but the visitors were never able to establish an all-important lead at any point.

The centre said: “We started well, but then they scored after Jason Baitieri’s sin-bin, then got another one.

“We got back into it, and when Jorge scored, I felt we had a chance, and when I went over after half-time, it seemed like we had a real opportunity.

“But they kept getting a score just after we did, which kept us at arm’s length.

“We didn’t play how we have done in recent weeks, so that was a shame.”

Arundel admitted it was not easy coming up against a full-time team, logistically as much as anything else.

He said: “It makes a massive difference in this league.

“If you’re full-time like Toulouse, you’re solely paid to play rugby league and to look after yourself so you’re in the best shape for games.

“You are being paid to produce results, so maybe there’s more pressure in that sense, but it is hard for us part-time lads when we don’t know what’s happening in the week before travelling to France.

“You have to switch your days at work around to get out there and you have plenty to plan, and the opposition don’t have to worry about that.”

Tom Holmes works in sports coaching during the week, while Jordan Lilley runs his own gym. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Now 32, this season might have represented Arundel’s last chance to return to Super League.

Asked if the defeat was therefore even harder to take for the older players like him, he said: “I’m not sure about that, because no-one knows what’s going to happen after next year, and who’ll be in Super League or the Championship (because of the IMG grading criteria).

“Those younger lads might get chances in the future to make Super League that’s true, and if we had been promoted, I’d have probably had a go at another year of full-time rugby league.

“But I might have decided to retire, I’m not sure.”

Arundel signed a new one-year deal with Bulls in August, but asked if he expected 2024 to be his final season in the sport, he said: “Honestly, this year has been one of the most consistent I’ve had.

“I’ve played nearly every week, 26 competitive games plus all the friendlies, so it’s not been a bad return.

“I’ll see how my body feels after next season, but I’m holding out for a testimonial too, so I’ll just have to take it year by year at this stage.

“I played in the back-row a bit this season too, so I might look at doing that more to extend my career.”