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 successive home Super League win, emerging victorious from a legendary encounter versus winless Huddersfield Giants.


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


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


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the video game but Bradford managed the win courtesy of Hooley's late try and Nikorima's second.


It was a chastening night for Huddersfield, who dropped to a 5th successive league defeat, yet the injury-hit Giants mounted an exceptional return in a thrilling second half at Odsal.


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


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


Bradford sent out Connor Wynne through for what they believed was the game's opening shot however, after a lengthy review by video referee James Vella, his rating was chalked off when it was evaluated Ed Chamberlain was passively offside at the point the kick was made before he became active when in belongings.


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Wynne was later on at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, causing Powell thinking quickly to take possession and after that discuss for the first shot of the night.


Yet it was some fast from Bradford that helped them respond, as they worked the ball from their own goalline into Ruan's shot within 60 seconds and after that Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his launching to extend the hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored among the more adventurous shots of the night, 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 first offloading to Hooley, who wonderfully offered a dummy before going in at the corner, before the previous Salford guy damaged his way over for a 2nd.


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'Jayden was the video game's finest gamer' - response


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were really great, they showed a willingness and we didn't handle their huge bodies (well) sometimes in the very first half, they got a roll on and we fought with it.


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


"I believed Jayden was easily the very best player on the field. I didn't expect much magic from him, I simply wanted him to protect well and take the line on, however he's a superior gamer, he's been chewing at the bit to play.


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


Huddersfield manager Luke Robinson informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"First half we were dominant, we had most of the ball. But it makes it extremely challenging to attack on this field, it's small.


"Very hardly ever will you go round people however 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 provide enough with the ball.


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


"If you do put a seven-tackle set in, we need to still have the durability to safeguard that set. Work for your mate, for the club, for the badge, for the t-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