2019 Bradford Bulls season

It was announced that first team prop forward James Davies left the club to sign for rugby union side Huddersfield RUFC.[1] Recruitment for the new season started as on loan prop forward Callum Bustin signed a permanent contract with the Bulls until the end of 2019.[2] Bradford brought some experience into the squad with the signing of veteran Super League centre Jake Webster from Castleford Tigers on a 2 Year Deal.[3] Prop James Green who was on loan from Castleford Tigers signed a 1 Year Deal with the Bulls after a successful loan spell.[4]

Centre Ashley Gibson signed a 1 Year extension to his contract.[5] Welsh international winger Dalton Grant also signed a 1 Year extension after scoring 18 tries in the previous season.[6] It was also announced that former prop forward Jon Magrin would return to the club after a year with the Sheffield Eagles.[7] Academy products Alix Stephenson (fullback), Elliot Culling (centre) and Thomas Doyle (hooker) all signed contracts for the first team following in the footsteps of Oliver Wilson, Matthew Storton, Rowan Milnes and Evan Hodgson.[8] Young Hunslet R.L.F.C. winger David Foggin-Johnston agreed to sign a 1 Year Deal at the Bulls.[9] Home grown fullback Brandon Pickersgill signed a 2 Year extension to stay at the Bulls until the end of 2020.[10]

Young hooker and academy product Reiss Butterworth signed for Super League side Huddersfield Giants on a 3 Year Deal after not featuring for the Bradford side in 2018.[11] 2018 loanee Mikey Wood also put pen to paper on a permanent deal as he signed a 1 Year contract to join the Bulls for 2019 from the Huddersfield Giants.[12] Continuing to recruit for the new season the Bulls announced the capture of seasoned hooker/halfback Matty Wildie on a 1 Year Deal from RFL Championship side Featherstone Rovers.[13] Following this, the Bulls announced that hooker Vila Halafihi had departed the club later to sign a 1 Year Deal at Hunslet R.L.F.C..[14] Further good news was released by the club as winger Jy Hitchcox signed a 2 Year Deal with the club from Castleford Tigers despite interest from Toronto Wolfpack and London Broncos.[15] Bradford re-signed free scoring back rower Elliot Minchella for 3 Years on a full time deal keeping him at Odsal Stadium until the end of the 2021 season.[16] Further recruitment in the pack came in the form of Featherstone Rovers second rower Connor Farrell who signed a 2 Year Deal to play for Bradford.[17] Captain and workhorse prop Steve Crossley signed a new 2 Year Deal with the Bulls.[18] In a double coup for the club Joe Keyes signed a full time 2 Year Deal with the club, whilst out of contract halfback Dane Chisholm also signed up for 1 Year.[19][20]

The month started off with the announcement that the Bulls would host RFL Championship rivals York City Knights on Boxing Day.[21] It was also revealed that the Bulls would face Super League side Huddersfield Giants on 13 January 2019 for Michael Lawrence's testimonial.[22] The fixtures for the 2019 campaign were also released and Bradford would kick off their return to the Championship with a home match against Featherstone Rovers, it was also revealed that the Bulls would take on local rivals Halifax R.L.F.C. in the 2019 Summer Bash at Bloomfield Road.[23] Young backrower Danny King left the club and subsequently signed a 1 Year Deal with Dewsbury Rams.[24] Former player and current Wales assistant coach Garreth Carvell was brought to the Bulls to continue working under John Kear as his assistant.[25] Prop forward Jordan Andrade also left the Bulls to link up with Dewsbury on a 1 Year Deal.[26]

December saw the Bulls sign ex Super League centre Rhys Evans on a 1 Year Deal from Leigh Centurions.[27] Following this capture it was also revealed that the Yorkshire Cup would be resurrected after a 26 year absence in the form of a pre-season cup with Bradford, Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax R.L.F.C., Hunslet R.L.F.C., Hunslet Club Parkside and York City Knights all participating. The Bulls will face Halifax at Odsal Stadium on 6 January.[28] Bradford released their 2019 squad number with fullback Gregg McNally taking the number 1 shirt and new signings Jake Webster, Jy Hitchcox and Matty Wildie taking numbers 3, 5 and 9.[29] During an interview owner Andrew Chalmers revealed that the Bulls would host Canadian side Toronto Wolfpack in a Friday night friendly on January 25.[30] Young reserve player Harvey Burnett left the Bulls to join Dewsbury on a 1 Year Deal.[31] The Bulls got their pre-season off to a winning start with a 20-12 victory over York.[32]

The new year started off with the news that fullback Gregg McNally would be released on compassionate grounds in order to move closer to his home in Leigh to care for his ill wife.[33] The Bulls beat local rivals Halifax R.L.F.C. 26-16 in the resurrected RFL Yorkshire Cup meaning they progressed to a semi final against Dewsbury Rams.[34] Following this win Bradford announced that they would face Toronto Wolfpack in a friendly on the 25 January in the Transatlantic Cup.[35] The Bulls revealed that trialist Trae O'Sullivan signed a permanent deal with the club after impressing coach John Kear against Halifax.[36] The Yorkshire Cup run continued as Bradford defeated Dewsbury 20-18 in the semi final earning their place in the first Yorkshire Cup final in over 25 years. The following day saw Bradford lose 56-12 to Super League side Huddersfield Giants in Michael Lawrence's testimonial, halfback Dane Chisholm scored a length of the field intercept try whilst new signing David Foggin-Johnston also crossed however the Super League side ran rampant as the Bulls finished the match with most of their Under 19's on the field.[37] The Bulls claimed their first piece of silverware for the 2019 season as they won the Yorkshire Cup with a hard fought 14-12 win against Batley Bulldogs.[38] The month ended with the Bulls losing 48-12 to Toronto in the final pre-season friendly.[39]

Bradford opened their 2019 Betfred Championship campaign with a hard fought 17-16 win over Featherstone Rovers.[40] The Bulls also signed Toronto Wolfpack prop forward Olsi Krasniqi on a one month loan due to an injury crisis in the forward pack.[41] Following their opening round victory the Bulls backed this up with a 31-12 win over Swinton Lions.[42] The first loss of the season came in the form of a 24-10 defeat by Sheffield Eagles with prop forward James Green receiving a red card.[43] The month finished on a sour note for the Bulls as they fell to a 24-14 home defeat by last seasons rivals York City Knights, winger Ethan Ryan scored a brace of tries.[44]