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


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


Jacob Gagai dragged Huddersfield back into the game but Bradford pulled off the win thanks to Hooley's late try and Nikorima's second.


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


Russell's early goal 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 penalised for a high arm on Hooley, who properly sent out over another 2 points right in front of the posts.


Bradford sent out Connor Wynne through for what they thought was the video game's opening shot but, 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 ownership.


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Wynne was later on at fault when he spilled Russell's high ball, resulting in Powell thinking quickly to occupy and after that review for the very first shot 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 try within 60 seconds and then Nikorima powered over under the sticks on his launching to extend the hosts' lead.


Huddersfield then scored among the more audacious shots of the evening, as Gagai snuck up on Bradford's Esan Marsters - who had been expecting 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 offloading to Hooley, who magnificently offered a dummy before going in at the corner, before the former Salford man damaged his method over for a second.


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


Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"Huddersfield were actually good, they showed a desire and we didn't deal with their huge bodies (well) sometimes in the very first half, they got a roll on and we battled with it.


"Ultimately, when we entered into the video game we began playing our style - it took us too long to do that however as soon as we became the game and began improving our line speed, I believed that started to turn the game.


"I thought Jayden was easily the best player on the field. I didn't anticipate much magic from him, I just wanted him to protect well and take the line on, but he's a top-notch player, he's been chewing at the bit to play.


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


Huddersfield boss Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:


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


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


"Second half we gave 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 simply heaps so much pressure on us.


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