This article details the
Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2017 season. This is the Bulls 3rd season in the
Championship. They come into this season as
Championship Shield winners after defeating the
Sheffield Eagles 27-16 in the Championship Shield Final.
Long serving academy loose forward
Danny Addy and New Zealand prop forward Mitch Clark both signed one year deals at
Hull Kingston Rovers.[citation needed] Due to Hull KR's relegation both of their contracts were voided and had the option to re-sign for the Bulls, however both decided to honor their contracts with the Hull side.[citation needed] Ex-Bradford player
Phil Joseph signed a two-year deal to rejoin the club after a lack of game time at
Salford Red Devils, shortly after the Bulls announced the signing of Australian loose forward
Lachlan Burr from the
Gold Coast Titans on a one-year deal.[citation needed] Bradford were due to sign
Manly Sea Eagles forward
Blake Leary however negotiations fell through at the vital point of talks.[citation needed]
November 2016
Second-row forward
Kurt Haggerty retired from playing rugby league to further his coaching career, he signed on the backroom staff for new Canadian side
Toronto Wolfpack..[citation needed] Second rower
Tom Olbison also signed a one-year extension to his contract.[citation needed] Prop forward
Steve Crossley announced that he had signed for Toronto for the upcoming season.[citation needed]Huddersfield Giants announced the signing of prop
Paul Clough from the Bulls, in addition to this stand off
Lee Gaskell signed a 4-year deal with the Giants.[citation needed] During this month, owner Marc Green placed the club in administration for the third time in 4 years due to outstanding tax owed to
HMRC.[citation needed] Meanwhile, Huddersfield announced the signing of
Dale Ferguson from the Bulls on a two-year deal.[citation needed]
December 2016
Due to the club being in administration, no signings were made in December.[citation needed] According to the administrator there were a number of bids for the club include a couple from multi-millionaires hoping to invest in
Odsal Stadium and its surrounding lands.[citation needed] However non of these were successful.[citation needed]
Reinforces were made to the squad as
Leeds Rhinos loaned out halfback
Jordan Lilley, second row
Josh Jordan-Roberts, hooker
Sam Hallas and prop Mikolaj Oledzki on a 1-month loans to the Bulls ahead of the opening game.[citation needed] The opening game of the season saw the Bulls lose 24-54 to
RFL Championship favourites
Hull Kingston Rovers. The Bulls took an early lead through young prop
Liam Kirk before Hull KR scored a few tries to take the lead. Academy graduate
Ross Oakes also scored before fan favourite
Ethan Ryan raced 80m to score an interception try ten minutes from full-time.
Iliess Macani scored a consolation try after a
Jordan Lilley intercept whilst fullback
Oscar Thomas kicked four conversions.[citation needed] Following the defeat the Bulls announced the capture of young Samoan
rugby sevens star
Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa on a 1-year deal.[citation needed] The first home game of the season saw 4,051 people watch the Bulls narrowly lose 14-22 to the
Rochdale Hornets. Youngster
James Bentley and Thomas both scored tries whilst Thomas kicked 3 goals in the defeat.[citation needed] After being out powered in the pack the Bulls announced the signing of French international, second row forward
Kevin Larroyer on a 1-month loan deal from
Castleford Tigers.[citation needed] Bradford added more experience signing ex-international
Scott Moore on a 4-game trial and also utility back
Lee Smith on a 2-year deal.[citation needed]
This article details the
Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2017 season. This is the Bulls 3rd season in the
Championship. They come into this season as
Championship Shield winners after defeating the
Sheffield Eagles 27-16 in the Championship Shield Final.
Long serving academy loose forward
Danny Addy and New Zealand prop forward Mitch Clark both signed one year deals at
Hull Kingston Rovers.[citation needed] Due to Hull KR's relegation both of their contracts were voided and had the option to re-sign for the Bulls, however both decided to honor their contracts with the Hull side.[citation needed] Ex-Bradford player
Phil Joseph signed a two-year deal to rejoin the club after a lack of game time at
Salford Red Devils, shortly after the Bulls announced the signing of Australian loose forward
Lachlan Burr from the
Gold Coast Titans on a one-year deal.[citation needed] Bradford were due to sign
Manly Sea Eagles forward
Blake Leary however negotiations fell through at the vital point of talks.[citation needed]
November 2016
Second-row forward
Kurt Haggerty retired from playing rugby league to further his coaching career, he signed on the backroom staff for new Canadian side
Toronto Wolfpack..[citation needed] Second rower
Tom Olbison also signed a one-year extension to his contract.[citation needed] Prop forward
Steve Crossley announced that he had signed for Toronto for the upcoming season.[citation needed]Huddersfield Giants announced the signing of prop
Paul Clough from the Bulls, in addition to this stand off
Lee Gaskell signed a 4-year deal with the Giants.[citation needed] During this month, owner Marc Green placed the club in administration for the third time in 4 years due to outstanding tax owed to
HMRC.[citation needed] Meanwhile, Huddersfield announced the signing of
Dale Ferguson from the Bulls on a two-year deal.[citation needed]
December 2016
Due to the club being in administration, no signings were made in December.[citation needed] According to the administrator there were a number of bids for the club include a couple from multi-millionaires hoping to invest in
Odsal Stadium and its surrounding lands.[citation needed] However non of these were successful.[citation needed]
Reinforces were made to the squad as
Leeds Rhinos loaned out halfback
Jordan Lilley, second row
Josh Jordan-Roberts, hooker
Sam Hallas and prop Mikolaj Oledzki on a 1-month loans to the Bulls ahead of the opening game.[citation needed] The opening game of the season saw the Bulls lose 24-54 to
RFL Championship favourites
Hull Kingston Rovers. The Bulls took an early lead through young prop
Liam Kirk before Hull KR scored a few tries to take the lead. Academy graduate
Ross Oakes also scored before fan favourite
Ethan Ryan raced 80m to score an interception try ten minutes from full-time.
Iliess Macani scored a consolation try after a
Jordan Lilley intercept whilst fullback
Oscar Thomas kicked four conversions.[citation needed] Following the defeat the Bulls announced the capture of young Samoan
rugby sevens star
Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa on a 1-year deal.[citation needed] The first home game of the season saw 4,051 people watch the Bulls narrowly lose 14-22 to the
Rochdale Hornets. Youngster
James Bentley and Thomas both scored tries whilst Thomas kicked 3 goals in the defeat.[citation needed] After being out powered in the pack the Bulls announced the signing of French international, second row forward
Kevin Larroyer on a 1-month loan deal from
Castleford Tigers.[citation needed] Bradford added more experience signing ex-international
Scott Moore on a 4-game trial and also utility back
Lee Smith on a 2-year deal.[citation needed]