Catalans Dragons beat Bradford Bulls 34-24 in Super League, and Castleford Tigers are the headline reference point here only because the result tightens the race around the teams involved. Solomona Faataape was again central for Catalans, who held Bradford off after the visitors twice pulled the score back.
John Cartwright’s side have now won three of their past four Super League games and sit on 16 points from 15 matches. That keeps them eighth, level on points with Leigh in seventh, while Bradford remain 10th after a run of two wins in their past 10 games.
Faataape keeps the pressure on
Faataape scored his fifth try in his past four appearances, giving Catalans another direct line to points when they needed it. Zac Lipowicz opened the scoring after six minutes, and Josh Allen added another after a Bradford error before Julian Bousquet and Faataape pushed the lead to 22-10 at half-time.
That start mattered because Bradford did not fade quietly. Ryan Sutton and Ethan Ryan scored for the Bulls, and Connor Wynne struck in the opening moments of the second half to cut into the deficit before Catalans settled again.
Kruise Leeming and Charlie Staines
The second-half swing was never one-way. Bradford stayed in the contest after twice pulling back the scoreline, but Catalans still pulled away to win by 10 points after Kruise Leeming and Charlie Staines crossed later in the game. Caleb Aetkins added another Bradford try after gathering Wynne’s kick, and Wynne scored again, yet the gap never fully closed.
For Cartwright, the form is now the clearest figure in the story. Three wins in four games is the sort of run that keeps Catalans in touch with the sides above them, even if they are still sitting eighth rather than pushing further up the table.
John Cartwright and Bradford Bulls
The next step is fixed on both sides of the same result. Catalans now go to Warrington on Thursday, while Bradford return home to face St Helens next Saturday after another defeat that leaves them searching for a cleaner stretch of results.
Whether John Cartwright will actually extend his deal to the end of 2027 is not answered here. What is clear is that his team have given themselves a better run of form, and Faataape’s scoring streak has become part of that momentum.
