20 February 2026
Bradford (24) 28
Tries: Ackers, Blake (2 ), Aekins Goals: Milnes (6 )
Catalans (0) 10
Tries: Faataape, Sexton Goals: Sexton
Bradford Bulls marked their very first Super League home match for 12 years with an emphatic 28-10 win over Catalans Dragons.
Converted tries from Andy Ackers, Waqa Blake and Caleb Aekins were contributed to by three penalty goals by Rowan Milnes for a 24-0 lead at half-time.
Quickfire ratings from Solomona Faataape and Toby Sexton threatened a stunning Dragons comeback in the 2nd half.
But Blake scored again to secure a well-known win for the Bulls at Odsal Stadium.
Bradford took an early lead through Ackers, who weaved previously powering over the line from close range after Joe Mellor kept the move alive.
Milnes kicked two penalties from under the sticks inside 22 minutes, penalizing a string of mistakes by the Dragons.
The visitors were denied by a no-try call when Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui believed he had actually scored on the line, but the video referee maintained the choice, ruling that he had actually not touched the ball down.
It proved to be a key minute as Milnes included a third penalty goal before Blake raced away after a quick team move from right to delegated score the Bulls' 2nd try.
Aekins then darted through a space left by the Catalans' front row for a third try.
Three minutes after the break, the Dragons were provided a gift when Ethan Ryan's loose pass was pounced on by Faataape, who might not think his luck as he ran in to score.
The momentum was with the visitors, and another Bradford mistake, this time from Aekins, was penalized as Sexton went over, however his conversion effort went wide to leave the deficit at 14 points.
Ryan almost apologized for his mistake by catching a long Milnes kick inside the Catalans' half before setting Esan Marsters away, but the video referee prohibited the try, ruling that Ryan had been dealt with during the play.
Blake added his second try moments later after Ryan combined with Milnes to cap an excellent triumph.
Bradford development pleases Haggerty - reaction
Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:
"I truly enjoyed the very first half. I actually delighted in parts of the 2nd half, particularly defensively.
"We were truly sloppy with the ball in the 2nd half, but I liked how we turned Catalans away. We revealed how fit we are ... and how far we have actually come in a brief area of time.
"The belief of the group is actually crucial, we've got another hard game [coming up against Toulouse], it's week to week this. You can't simply peak due to the fact that we have actually got a great crowd at Odsal.
"We'll definitely won't be pleased, we'll attend to the second half, we'll repair it."
Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Blake, Ryan; Hooley, Milnes; Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Chamberlain, Fulton, Mellor.
Interchanges: Souter, Scurr, Doro, Peposhi.
Catalans: Staines; Makinson, Cotric, Faataape, Simm; Sexton, Dodd; Satae, Da Costa, Navarrete, Lipowicz, Condon, Leeming.
Interchanges: Fa'asuamaleaui, Allen, Lis, Chan.
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