Bradford Bulls have been ticking off milestones, including securing a Super League club spot after 12 years.
But they face an opportunity to scratch one particular itch against the Castleford Tigers.
Bulls’ Home Form Contrasts with Away Struggles
The Bulls’ position in the top five is largely due to their strong home record, with three wins out of three. However, their away form has been a different story.
Following a win in London, they suffered defeats to Hull FC and St Helens, where they were winning late on, followed by a Challenge Cup loss at Wigan.
Despite the frustrating defeats, the Bulls received praise, though they were considered underdogs in those matches. This might not be the case against Castleford.
Tigers’ Confidence Could Be Low
Castleford’s form has been inconsistent, with their only win coming against Huddersfield. They suffered a significant setback with a 72-6 defeat at Warrington.
The Tigers might be low on confidence, but they could be buoyed by the Bulls’ lack of an away win in the Super League.
A Long Wait for an Away Victory
Bradford have not won a top-flight game on the road since September 2014, when they beat London. Their record at Castleford is also poor, with only one win at Wheldon Road since 2008.
Bulls assistant coach Lee Greenwood expressed a mix of excitement and caution. He said: “It’d definitely be good for us to get that first away win under our belts.”
Greenwood added: “Obviously Bulls have been out of Super League for a while, but it’s been a long time since a Bradford team have won at Cas as well.”
“We’ve made no secret about trying to make Odsal a fortress, and we’ve made it difficult for teams coming to us.”
“But that is the next step for us, getting that first away win.”
“We prepare to win every game, but we’ll certainly be looking for that first one on the road this week.”
Away Demons Not Just a Super League Issue
The Bulls have struggled away from home for a while. Under John Kear, they often played better on the road.
Since Greenwood and Brian Noble took charge in May 2023, Bradford have only lost nine league games in BD6, three for the rest of that year, three in 2024 and three in