Bradford Outmuscle Huddersfield In Epic At Odsal


ByJay Freeman
BBC Sport England


71 Comments


Bradford (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 succeeding home Super League win, emerging victorious from an impressive encounter against winless Huddersfield Giants.


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


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


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the game however Bradford managed the win thanks to Hooley's late shot and Nikorima's 2nd.


It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who plunged to a 5th succeeding league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants installed an exceptional resurgence in a thrilling second half at Odsal.


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


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


Bradford sent Connor Wynne through for what they believed was the video game's opening shot however, after a lengthy evaluation by video referee James Vella, his score 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 at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, causing Powell believing rapidly to take ownership and after that discuss for the very first shot of the night.


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


Huddersfield then scored among the more audacious tries of the evening, as Gagai snuck up on Bradford's Esan Marsters - who had 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 great fettle with Nikorima initially unloading to Hooley, who beautifully offered a dummy before entering at the corner, before the previous Salford male battered his method over for a 2nd.


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


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were actually excellent, they revealed a desire and we didn't deal with their big bodies (well) at times in the first half, they got a roll on and we had problem with it.


"Ultimately, when we entered into the game we started playing our style - it took us too long to do that once we grew into the game and started enhancing our line speed, I believed that started to turn the game.


"I believed Jayden was easily the finest gamer on the field. I didn't expect much magic from him, I just desired him to protect well and take the line on, but he's a first-class player, he's been munching at the bit to play.


"He was the distinction, wasn't he? He simply needs to keep improving, keep concentrating on his first and after that the rest of his game will come."


Huddersfield manager Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:


"First half we were dominant, we had the majority of the ball. But it makes it extremely difficult to assault on this field, it's tiny.


"Very hardly ever will you go round people however I felt we must have made a 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 provided a seven-tackle set away, they scored, we got back into it, we offered a seven-tackle set away once again, they scored, we kicked one out on the full and it just loads a lot pressure on us.


"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we ought to still have the durability to defend that set. Work for your mate, for the club, for the badge, for the shirt. At the moment, things are simply somewhat 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