Bradford Outmuscle Huddersfield In Epic At Odsal

ByJay Freeman
BBC Sport England


71 Comments


(4) 26


Tries: Ruan, Nikorima 2, Hooley Goals: Hooley 3, Atkin 2


Huddersfield (2) 14


Tries: Powell, Gagai Goals: Russell 3


Bradford Bulls made a third successive home Super League win, emerging victorious from a legendary encounter against winless Huddersfield Giants.


In a cagey very first half, Olly Russell and Luke Hooley exchanged kicks, with the latter effective to offer Bradford a narrow half-time lead.


Tristan Powell struck for Huddersfield after the break but Leon Ruan and Jayden Nikorima countered for the Bulls.


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the game however Bradford pulled off the win courtesy of Hooley's late shot and Nikorima's second.


It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who slumped to a 5th succeeding league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants installed an admirable return in a thrilling 2nd half at Odsal.


Russell's early objective had nudged them ahead and, in an attritional first half, his kick was matched by Hooley later on.


The game sprung into life as half-time approached, with Zac Woolford penalised for a high arm on Hooley, who appropriately sent over another 2 points right in front of the posts.


Bradford sent out Connor Wynne through for what they thought was the game's opening shot however, after a prolonged evaluation by video referee James Vella, his rating was chalked off when it was judged Ed Chamberlain was passively offside at the point the kick was made before he ended up being active when in possession.


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Wynne was later on at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, leading to Powell believing quickly to occupy and after that discuss for the first try of the night.


Yet it was some quick thinking from Bradford that assisted them react, as they worked the ball from their own goalline into Ruan's shot within one minute and then Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his debut to extend the hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored among the more audacious shots of the night, as Gagai snuck up on Bradford's Esan Marsters - who had actually been anticipating it to bounce dead - and dotted down with inches to spare to put the visitors within 2.


Bradford polished off the win in fine fettle with Nikorima initially offloading to Hooley, who beautifully sold a dummy before entering at the corner, before the former Salford male battered his method over for a second.


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'Jayden was the video game's best gamer' - reaction


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were really excellent, they revealed a determination and we didn't handle their huge bodies (well) at times in the very first half, they got a roll on and we dealt with it.


"Ultimately, when we got into the game we started playing our style - it took us too long to do that however when we turned into the game and began improving our line speed, I thought that started to turn the game.


"I thought Jayden was conveniently the very best player on the field. I didn't anticipate much magic from him, I just wanted him to defend well and take the line on, however he's a first-class gamer, he's been chewing at the bit to play.


"He was the difference, wasn't he? He just needs to keep enhancing, keep concentrating on his defence initially and then the rest of his game will come."


Huddersfield employer Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:


"First half we were dominant, we had the bulk of the ball. But it makes it very tough to assault on this field, it's tiny.


"Very seldom will you go round people but I felt we need to have made a little bit more of the field positions, in attack we were a little bit blunt and didn't use enough with the ball.


"Second half we offered a seven-tackle set away, they scored, we returned into it, we offered a seven-tackle set away once again, they scored, we kicked one out on the complete and it just heaps a lot pressure on us.


"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we should still have the strength to protect that set. Work for your mate, for the club, for the badge, for the t-shirt. At the moment, things are just slightly off."


Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Armitage, Ryan; Nikorima, Hooley; Sutton, Ackers, Ormondroyd, Chamberlain, Ruan, Mellor.


Interchanges: Atkin, Lolesio, Hallas, Souter.


Huddersfield: King; Woolford, Burgess, O'Donnell, Patolo; Powell, Russell; Lolohea, Gagai, Milne, McCormack, Lumb, Zenon.


Interchanges: Rogers, Rush, Cozza, Cassell.


Referee: Aaron Moore.


Huddersfield Giants