Bradford Bulls 2026 season preview
2025 recap
The Bulls had a strong season in the Championship in 2025, finishing 3rd with 18 wins from their 24 regular season matches.
A home win over Featherstone Rovers in their Eliminator play-off saw them through to a semi-final at Toulouse, who beat them 24-20 in a tight contest.
Ordinarily, that would mean a 12th straight season in the second tier, but with Super League expanding to 14 teams in 2026, four-time champions Bradford are one of three clubs to be granted a place in the top flight. It’ll be their first Super League campaign since relegation in 2014.
2025 position: 3rd (Championship)
Key signings
Andy Ackers (Leeds), Rowan Milnes (Hull KR), Ethan Ryan (Oldham), Jayden Nikorima (Salford Red Devils), Eribe Doro (Hull KR), Loghan Lewis (Salford Red Devils), Will Gardiner (Hull FC), Brandon Douglas (Halifax Panthers), Connor Wynne (Featherstone Rovers), Caleb Aekins (Featherstone Rovers), Ed Chamberlain (Hull FC – season-long loan), Dan Russell (Warrington), Ryan Sutton (Gold Coast Titans), Joe Mellor (Salford Red Devils), Esan Marsters (Salford Red Devils), Leon Ruan (Hull KR – season-long loan)
Key departures
Chris Hill (Retirement), Michael Lawrence (Retirement), Jordan Lilley (Sheffield Eagles), Kieran Gill (Sheffield Eagles), Nathan Mason (Retirement), Bayley Liu (Halifax Panthers), Tom Holmes (Doncaster), Tyran Ott (Ipswich Jets), Matty Gee (Retirement), Jacob Bateman (Dewsbury Rams – season-long loan), Emmanuel Waine (Oldham), James Meadows (London Broncos), Logan Bayliss-Brow (Gold Coast Titans), James Donaldson (Retirement)
Players to watch
The arrival of Ryan Sutton could be a masterstroke if he can discover the sort of form that earned him a shot in the NRL. The prop forward played over 100 games for hometown club Wigan before heading Down Under, where he made 88 appearances for the Raiders and the Bulldogs before a series of injuries struck him down. His last top grade appearance came way back in 2023, but he’s still only 30, and if he stays fit, the Bulls have pulled off a huge coup.
Andy Ackers is another of the Bulls’ new recruits for their top flight return. The 32-year-old hooker brings a wealth of experience, with over 100 games in Super League, another 100+ in the Championship, plus two caps for England, so he’ll be expected to guide the team round the park in 2026.
Young gun
Jamie Gill will be hoping for a taste of Super League action in 2026 after signing his first full-time contract in the off-season. The 20-year-old prop has spent time at Cornwall, Dewsbury and Newcastle over the past two seasons, but the Ireland international will now be looking to establish himself in the Bulls’ ranks.
Our prediction – 14th
I’m delighted to see Bradford back in the big time, but I can’t see them making an impact on Super League yet. It’s a big leap from the Championship, and with an entirely new team to bed in, the main aim will be just avoiding the wooden spoon. I can’t quite see it happening though.
