Season review
August 2017
By the start of August it was confirmed that the Bulls would be relegated into League 1 after finishing bottom of the 2017 RFL Championship table. [1] Preparation for the 2018 season began in August when it was announced that academy graduate and first team player Keenan Tomlinson agreed to leave the Bulls by mutual consent. This was swiftly followed by the news that home grown second-rower and the 2017 Player of the Year James Bentley, had signed a 3-year deal with Super League side St. Helens. [2]
September 2017
Home grown centre Ross Oakes and prop forward Liam Kirk both re-signed with Bradford among speculation that the duo would leave due to the Bulls relegation, however both signed new 2-year deals. [3] It was announced that centre James Mendieka had been released by the club after three seasons. [4] Young academy graduate hooker Joe Lumb signed a 1-year deal with local League 1 side Keighley Cougars after not featuring much during 2017. [5] Further departures were announced as winger Johnny Campbell resigned with his old club Batley Bulldogs. [6] While fellow winger Omari Caro announced on social media that he had retired from the sport. [7] Second row forward Colton Roche joined the mini exodus as he signed for Huddersfield Giants of the Super League. [8] Some good news followed the exodus as it was revealed that highly rated academy prospects Reiss Butterworth, Evan Hodgson and Oliver Wilson all signed new 3-year contracts with the Bulls. [9] Hodgson and Butterworth have both featured in the first team during the 2017 season, however Wilson is yet to make his debut. In a shock move, Bradford managed to acquire the services of current superstar halfback Dane Chisholm for another 2 season despite interest from several other clubs. [10] Meanwhile, prop forward Ross Peltier put pen to paper on a new 2-year deal and young halfback Joe Keyes also signed up for another 2 years. [11] [12] Hooker Vila Halafihi became the 9th player to re-sign with the Bulls after agreeing a new 2-year deal to stay at Odsal. [13] Following this, hooker Scott Moore was released after declining to sign a new contract. [14] Lifelong Bulls fan and loose forward Elliot Minchella became the first new signing of the 2018 season as he signed a 2-year part-time deal from RFL Championship side Sheffield Eagles. [15] The month ended on a high for the Bulls as they announced the capture of experienced second rower Matt Garside from Championship team London Broncos on a 2-year deal. [16]
November 2017
Off-contract winger Iliess Macani departed the Bulls and signed for RFL Championship side Sheffield Eagles on a 1-year deal. [23] It was announced that the Bulls would play local rivals Halifax in a festive Boxing Day friendly, the first the Bulls have participated in since 2012. [24] Following this it was also confirmed that the Bulls would play Sheffield Eagles in a friendly as a part of the Dane Chisholm transfer midway through last season. [25] Young second-row forward Liam Johnson followed the footsteps of Mikey Wood and joined the Bulls from Super League side Huddersfield Giants on a season long loan. [26] The fixtures for the 2018 season were announced and the Bulls would kick off the campaign away to York City Knights on 18 February, before hosting the London Skolars at home on 4 March. The highly anticipated derby with local rivals Keighley Cougars were scheduled on 11 March (away) and 2 September (home). [27] It was also revealed that head coach Geoff Toovey would not be returning to the Bulls and in the meantime Leigh Beattie will take up the interim head coach role until a new coach is appointed. [28] Championship side Dewsbury Rams released details to two friendlies, with one being against the Bulls on 21 January at Crown Flatt, meanwhile Bradford announced that they would face Keighley Cougars in a friendly match on 11 February for the Joe Philips Memorial trophy. [29] [30] Sheffield Eagles announced that they would face Bradford in a friendly in 2018 as part of the deal which brought superstar halfback Dane Chisholm to the Bulls in 2017, the tie will be played on 11 January. [31] The newest team in rugby league, Toronto Wolfpack also announced a ground breaking Transatlantic Challenge which would see them face the Bulls in a pre-season match in 2018 and 2019, with the 2018 fixture being played at Odsal on 26 January and the 2019 fixture likely to be played in Canada or the United States to promote the sport. [32] Prop forward Jon Magrin who featured for the Bulls 25 times in 2017 decided to sign with Championship side Sheffield Eagles on a 2-year deal joining fellow former teammate Iliess Macani. [33]
December 2017
December started off with the news that the Bulls had signed young utility forward Jamel Goodall on a one-year contract from Castleford Tigers after impressing beforehand with Keighley Cougars. [34] It was also announced that following the departure of Geoff Toovey, former Sheffield Eagles, Hull F.C. and England coach John Kear had signed a 3-year deal to become head coach. His first move was to appoint long term clubman and interim coach Leigh Beattie as his assistant coach whilst making experienced back Lee Smith the club captain. [35] Bradford also secured the services of young centre/second row Callum Bustin on a season long loan deal from Castleford Tigers, he has had previous loan spells at fellow League 1 clubs Newcastle Thunder and London Skolars. [36] The Bulls released their new 2018 home shirt which pays tribute to the 40th anniversary of Bradford Northern's Premiership victory in 1978, featuring a red, amber and black chevron on a white background. During this reveal the 2018 squad numbers were also released with club captain Lee Smith retaining the number 1 shirt, other major movers include centre Ashley Gibson at number 3, Sam Hallas at number 9, Steve Crossley at number 10 whilst newcomers Matt Garside, Elliot Minchella and George Milton will wear the number 11, 12 and 13 shirts. [37] With the appointment of the shirt numbers it means that Australian prop Damien Sironen has not signed a new deal, veteran centre Willie Tonga and fullback Oscar Thomas were released. Another new signing was unveiled in the form of experienced Championship winger Dalton Grant on a 1-year deal from London Broncos, Grant missed the 2017 season due to injury but is looking to earn a starting spot for the Bulls. [38] 30 year old former Super League winger Alex Brown signed a 1-year deal with the Bulls from local side Batley Bulldogs becoming the 10th new recruit for the season. [39] The Boxing Day friendly ended with a 22-6 victory for the Bulls with newcomer Elliot Minchella scoring two tries and fellow newcomer Dalton Grant also crossing for a try whilst youngster Liam Kirk also scored. Club captain Lee Smith kicked two goals and academy player Rowan Milnes also kicked a goal.
May 2018
The Bulls posted a club record score of 124-0 against West Wales Raiders to go back to the top of the table. [50] Elliot Minchella and Matt Garside both scored hat-tricks whilst Dane Chisholm, Dalton Grant, Brandon Pickersgill and Ethan Ryan scored two tries each. Further tries from Callum Bustin, George Flanagan, Vila Halafihi, Sam Hallas, James Laithwaite, Ross Peltier and Lee Smith ensured the Bulls came away with a heavy win. During the match Chisholm broke the club record for points scored in a match by coming away with 48 points and also broke the goal kicking record by nailing 20 out of 21 conversions. Another big win came in the rearranged league fixture against London Skolars. Bradford won the match 54-16, Ethan Ryan scoring four tries and fellow wing man Grant grabbing two. Bustin, Ashley Gibson, Peltier, Pickersgill and Smith also scored tries. A tough test followed this as the Bulls came away from Newcastle Thunder with a narrow 26-16 win. Chisholm, Flanagan, Minchella and Ryan all got on the scoresheet. Meanwhile, youngster Reiss Butterworth joined RFL Championship side Batley Bulldogs on loan for a month. [51] The Bulls finished May with a comprehensive 68-0 win over Hemel Stags, Dalton Grant and Elliot Minchella grabbed the headlines scoring a brace of tries each while Chisholm, Flanagan, Garside, Halafihi, Laithwaite, Peltier, Pickersgill and Ryan also scored. Chisholm continued his fine form with the boot kicking 10 from 12.
June 2018
June started with a 50-12 win against North Wales Crusaders. Matt Garside, Ethan Ryan and Lee Smith scored two tries, Dane Chisholm, Joe Keyes and Brandon Pickersgill also scored tries with Chisholm kicking 7 goals. [52]
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Halifax RLFC 
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