Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty has made it clear what is driving his injury-hit squad heading into the final stretch of the season: they do not want to finish bottom of Super League.
That message matters with only four games left and Bradford sitting last after a difficult run that has seen them lose nine of their past 10 matches. Their only win in that spell came on 10 July, when they beat Huddersfield 30-14.
Pressure rises with four games left
Haggerty said the Bulls have to stay focused on the job in front of them rather than dwelling on how difficult the situation has become. Bradford are dealing with an injury crisis, and Haggerty said only 19 players are available, which leaves little room for rotation or recovery.
"When you play teams like Wigan, Leigh, Toulouse if you are feeling sorry for yourself at any point they will stamp all over you," Haggerty said. "We've got to prepare to win and be ready physically and mentally every week because if we don't we have shown what can happen."
The Bulls were promoted to Super League for the 2026 season after a decade away, but the challenge now is simply to avoid finishing bottom in a 14-team competition. For a club that has already been through a long climb back, ending the year last would be a frustrating setback.
Leigh trip comes with more uncertainty
Bradford are due to travel to Leigh on Friday, the same day as the Super League deadline for new signings. After that, they are scheduled to face Toulouse, Castleford at home and York Knights away.
The injury situation is still a major concern. Luke Hooley hurt his knee in Saturday's loss to Wigan Warriors, adding to the problems for a side that is already short on numbers. With so few players available, every selection call and every remaining match carries more weight.
Haggerty said the response has to come from within the group. "We don't want the tag of finishing bottom so that will drive us for the rest of the season," he said. For Bradford, that means the next four weeks are about resilience as much as results.
