Rugby League on West Yorkshire Radio

Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty expressed his disappointment that the club finished at the bottom of the table after the 35-16 loss to the York Knights. 

He emphasised that this outcome is difficult for everyone involved; players, staff, and supporters, especially considering the hopeful start to the season.

Haggerty said the recurring theme of discipline, concentration, and the need for cleaner execution was ultimately what cost his side in the defeat to York.

Kurt thanked the supporters for standing by the team through a very difficult year and asked them to continue backing the club in 2027.

He said the club will look very different next year, with new players and a new environment designed to raise standards.

The players will be back for pre-season training in October and the goal for the off-season is to turn disappointment into motivation and create a stronger, more competitive Bradford Bulls side.

York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth was delighted with his side's 35-16 victory over the Bradford Bulls, which earned them a tenth-place finish this evening. 

While awaiting potential NRL investment in the sport, Mark believes NRL involvement is essential, as it would probably be beneficial by creating a more unified governing structure.

Applegarth also believes NRL involvement would improve the sport’s credibility by aligning standards across countries.

As for the the Newcastle Thunder relationship between the two clubs, the current season has already shown the value of the partnership, but the future model for 2027 is expected to be less hands-on with Newcastle having their own identity.

The long-term plan over the next five to ten years is to build a stronger pathway structure at the York club with an elit e academy structure as the main driving force. 

Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty praised the commitment and resilience of his depleted squad in their 32-22 victory over the Castleford Tigers this evening.

The Bulls had only four days to recover from the previous match against Toulouse and were still missing 15 first-team players as they picked up their sixth win of the season at Odsal Stadium.

Kurt said a big theme for the club this week was using the remaining matches not only to secure results but also to demonstrate clear progress to supporters. 

With Haggerty saying the key moment came when Castleford had four consecutive sets near the Bradford line and his team defended that situation successfully, demonstrating commitment and resilience; two qualities the club wants to make part of its long-term identity.

Sylvain Houles is pleased with the progress Toulouse Olympique is making both on and off the field in 2026.

Saying that the statistics don’t lie, showing that his side has improved significantly since the beginning of their second season in the Super League.

Sylvain believes that Toulouse Mark Two are developing culture built on defense, discipline, youth progression, and collective work ethic, with the practical goal of sustaining success and strengthening the club’s long-term Super League identity.

Kurt Haggerty believes that the Bradford Bulls should have been awarded a penalty try in their narrow 28-18 defeat to Toulouse Olympique.

Although he was frustrated with that refereeing decision, the overall view was a blend of pride and disappointment; he felt Bradford should have won, but crucial late-game moments cost them dearly.

Bradford had 17 first-team players unavailable, which forced the club to depend on its homegrown players and senior players playing out of position.

Haggerty praised the team's response under pressure, highlighting the character and spirit of the squad’s resilience.

Kurt mentioned that it was an emotional moment when Harvey Ward made his Super League debut late in the second half.

The Bulls boss added that the debut reflected the club’s culture and the behind-the-scenes effort to support young players.

Kurt Haggerty says there are no excuses for the second-half collapse against the Leigh Leopards last night. 

While he felt the team was competitive for the first 40 minutes, he highlighted a very poor following 40, and noted that the result reflected the season-long issue of inconsistency.

He stressed that there can be no excuses, and that the group must not feel sorry for itself. The team’s mindset is built around being “in the trenches” and fighting out of difficult situations.

With Bradford losing four more players to injuries during the game, Kurt conceded that the impact of injuries and forced reshuffling made it very difficult to compete against a strong opponent in Leigh.

The key message from Kurt Haggerty to his Bradford Bulls squad is that they must keep scrapping and competing, even in tough conditions and games like
facing the Leigh Leopards tonight. 

This is especially important with fatigue, injuries, and many players experiencing Super League for the first time in 2026.

He says the final four games are being treated as a test of pride, professionalism and effort rather than just a run-out to the end of the season.

He expects his team to fight and persist in their efforts, especially for those players who will no longer have the opportunity to wear the Bradford shirt again after seasons end.

Brian Noble describes the signing of James Bentley on a three-year-deal as highly exciting and a strong move for both the Bradford Bulls and Kurt Haggerty’s long-term squad building.

With Noble being a part of the club’s recruitment processes, he says Bradford’s approach is to recruit players who want to play for the club for the right reasons.

Players who understand the club’s identity and standards. Whilst fitting into an environment built on pride, commitment, and competitiveness under Kurt Haggerty. 

Noble said he and Kurt Haggerty are both fans of Bentley’s style, and he expects opponents to struggle against a forward pack that includes Bentley and John Bateman. 

Two homegrown players, who are ultra-competitive and bring aggression and intensity to their game.

The Bradford Bulls have confirmed ten departures over the past few days, with Kurt Haggerty stating that these changes are intended to help the club move in a new direction and grow.

Kurt admits there was always going to be another period of change within the club, with the aim of taking it to the next level, while recognising that progress requires a process rather than instant results.

It is clear that the coming months will involve a significant transition, with many players leaving and new faces arriving, alongside off-field staff changes.

Kurt also provides an update on the club’s recruitment process for next season, mentioning that it is already progressing swiftly, with more new signings to be announced shortly.

Bradford is believed to be in the market for a new half, two more forwards, a back rower, and additional strength in the backline.

Kyle Eastmond’s key message to his Halifax Panthers team was that they did not begin the match as themselves and paid the price for failing to perform from the start in the 48-16 defeat to the Sheffield Eagles.

Kyle stressed that his Halifax side can compete because they have quality, but that quality must be shown from the opening whistle, not only after halftime or once the game has already drifted away.

Looking ahead to 2027 he expressed confidence that Panthers will still be here next year and stronger for the experiences of 2026.

Eastmond emphasising that the club must continue to depend on collective effort rather than individual stars, particularly due to tighter financial controls of the salary cap in the Championship and a smaller squad than in previous seasons.