Front-row threat resurfaces for Bulls before Wakefield clash
Bradford Bulls will head into tonight’s Betfred Super League fixture with Wakefield Trinity knowing their forward pack poses more of a scoring threat after vice-captain Ryan Sutton crossed twice in successive away matches.
Sutton, who endured a difficult spell with injury while in Australia before finding a rhythm with Bradford, registered his maiden Bulls try against Catalans and then scored again from close range against Huddersfield. Head coach Kurt Haggerty said those contributions underline how the Bulls’ style creates chances for all players, not just the outside backs.
"Until Sutty came to us, he hadn’t scored a try for a few years. It shows, when you play the style of rugby league that we do, whether you’re a front rower or an outside back, you have opportunities to score tries."
Haggerty also praised the work of scrum-half Andy Ackers, highlighting his control around the ruck as instrumental in producing the field position that allowed Sutton and others to finish plays.
Injuries and form — how the picture has changed since April
The Bulls’ revival in personnel and cohesion stands in contrast to the reverse fixture at Belle Vue earlier this season, when Bradford suffered a heavy 52-12 defeat to Wakefield Trinity. At that stage in mid-April Haggerty admitted his side were "very disjointed" and missing key figures.
That match saw Bradford hampered further by injuries inside the game, with the squad losing Joe Mellor and Esan Marsters during the contest. Sutton himself missed the Belle Vue fixture after aggravating a knock in training following the Good Friday derby defeat to Leeds.
- Ryan Sutton: scored in successive away games (Catalans, Huddersfield)
- Bradford’s earlier reverse fixture: Wakefield won 52-12 at Belle Vue
- Injuries in April affected Bradford’s competitiveness — Mellor and Marsters went off during that heavy defeat
Haggerty reflected that Bradford look "a little bit different now" as they regain bodies and positional clarity. For Wakefield, the reminder of that earlier emphatic victory is fresh — including the performance of Tom Johnstone, who scored four tries in Wakefield’s thumping win over Bradford in April.
What tonight could mean locally
For Wakefield supporters, tonight’s match at Odsal is a chance to measure how both sides have progressed since that mid-April meeting. Bradford will be looking to show their improved balance between forward and back-line play, while Trinity will want to confirm the form that produced a decisive Belle Vue result.
| Detail | From source |
|---|---|
| Last meeting (reverse fixture) | Wakefield 52–12 Bradford (Belle Vue, mid-April) |
| Bradford injuries noted | Joe Mellor and Esan Marsters lost during that game |
| Bradford recent try sources | Ryan Sutton scored vs Catalans and Huddersfield |
Locally, the fixture is another chapter in a short-term rivalry played out in front of fans who have seen the pendulum swing between both clubs this season. Expect Wakefield supporters to remind visitors of the Belle Vue scoreline, while Bulls fans will point to Sutton’s return and Haggerty’s claim that their style now gives forwards genuine scoring chances.
Whatever the result, the game will offer a clear barometer of Bradford’s recovery from the disjointed spell in April and of Wakefield’s ability to repeat the clinical form they showed at Belle Vue earlier in the campaign.
