2022 Bradford Bulls season

Academy graduate and hooker Thomas Doyle penned a one year extension to stay with the Bulls.[1]

Halfback Jordan Lilley signed a two year extension to his contract.[2] Widnes Vikings announced the signing of Bulls prop Levy Nzoungou for the 2022 season.[3] Second-rower Brad England signed a one year extension with the club after impressing John Kear last season.[4] Prop forward Anthony Walker signed a one year deal to stay at the Bulls.[5] Bradford's first new signing came in the form of prolific try-scoring centre Kieran Gill who signed a 2 year deal from fellow Championship side Newcastle Thunder.[6] Captain and prop forward Steve Crossley signed a one year extension to stay at the club.[7] Young winger Joe Brown signed for Championship rivals York City Knights on a one year deal.[8] Former two time loan prop Jordan Baldwinson returned to the club on a two year permanent deal from York.[9] Winger Jack Sanderson left the club after one season.[10] Centre Reece Hamlett joined the Swinton Lions for the 2022 season following numerous loan spells there the previous year.[11] In what was seen as a major coup for the club, the Bulls announced the signing of Super League halfback Declan Patton on a one year deal from Salford Red Devils.[12]

The Bulls announced the signing of powerhouse prop Samy Kibula on a one year deal from Super League side Warrington Wolves.[13] Bradford also signed fullback Elliot Hall on a two year deal from Batley Bulldogs.[14] Young second row academy product Brad Gallagher was released from his contract in order to pursue other playing opportunities, it was later announced that he had signed with Newcastle Thunder.[15][16] Winger David Foggin-Johnston signed a one year extension to his contract.[17] Veteran hooker George Flanagan signed a one year extension to stay with the Bulls for the 2022 season.[18] Rivals Featherstone Rovers announced the signing of Bradford fullback Brandon Pickersgill.[19] Winger Matty Dawson-Jones announced that he was staying at the club for another year after initially considering retirement due to injuries he sustained last season.[20] The Bulls revealed that they had signed fast-paced winger Ryan Millar from Sheffield Eagles on a two year deal.[21] Young prop Ethan O'Hanlon and academy hooker Cameron Berry joined RFL League 1 side Hunslet R.L.F.C. for the 2022 season.[22][23] Versatile youngster Billy Jowitt signed a 2 year extension to stay at the club.[24] The Bulls continued to strengthen their pack for 2022 as they announced the signing of York City Knights second row forward Sam Scott on a one year deal.[25]

Veteran halfback Danny Brough announced his retirement on medical advice due to injuries sustained throughout his career.[26] Prop forward Daniel Fleming signed a two year extension to stay at the club.[27] Academy grown centre Ross Oakes signed a two year deal with rival RFL Championship side Sheffield Eagles.[28] Highly rated youngster Ebon Scurr re-signed with the Bulls for two more years following Super League interest from Hull F.C. and reigning champions St Helens R.F.C..[29] Vice captain Sam Hallas joined Championship rivals Newcastle Thunder on a two year deal.[30] The Bulls signed young Leeds Rhinos academy players Coby Nichol and A.J. Wallace on one year deals.[31] Young forward Bradley Ho signed a new two year extension to his contract.[32] The 2022 fixtures were released and it was revealed that the Bulls would kick off the season away at Dewsbury Rams on January 30, before facing Sheffield Eagles at home the following week.[33] The Bulls signed young forward Jamie Pye from St Helens R.F.C. on a three month trial basis.[34] Bradford announced that their first pre-season friendly would take place on Boxing Day at Odsal Stadium against Halifax Panthers.[35] Bradford also signed young halfback Charlie Harris from Castleford Tigers academy.[36] The club released their home shirt for the upcoming season and in honor of the Super League win 25 years ago, the new shirt is modelled from the 1997 shirt.[37] Another pre-season friendly was announced with the Bulls set to take on Batley Bulldogs in January at Odsal Stadium.[38]

The Bulls announced three season long loans in the form of prop Muizz Mustapha, hooker Corey Johnson and loose forward Jarrod O'Connor all from local rivals Leeds Rhinos, it was also revealed that the Bulls will play the Rhinos in a pre-season friendly on January 23.[39] Trialist Jamie Pye left the club and signed a permanent deal with Oldham R.L.F.C..[40] Super League side Hull F.C. revealed that they would once again partner the Bulls in a dual registration for the upcoming season, whilst also announcing they would face the Bulls in a friendly for Danny Brough's testimonial.[41][42] The 2022 away kit and the squad numbers were released mid-month, with Elliot Kear taking the number 1 shirt. Other notable squad numbers were new signings Kieran Gill, Ryan Miller and Declan Patton took the 4,5 and 6 shirts, whilst Anthony Walker was promoted to number 8.[43] The Boxing Day clash against Halifax was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.[44]

Bradford announced another friendly, this time against RFL League 1 side Midlands Hurricanes at Odsal on 12 February. As this is during the RFL Championship season, the Bulls will have a mixture of players not selected for the league game and academy/reserve players.[45] The Bulls fell short in their first pre-season friendly losing 28-22 to Batley Bulldogs.[46] Bradford put on a strong showing against a youthful Hull F.C. side as the Bulls ran out 42-12 winners in the second pre-season friendly with the highlights coming from David Foggin-Johnston's two tries and Dec Patton kicking six goals for a 100% conversion rate.[47] The fixtures for the 2022 Summer Bash were released and it was revealed that the Bulls would face local rivals Halifax Panthers on the 30th July at Headingley Stadium.[48] Bradford lost their last pre-season friendly 12-30 against historic rivals Leeds Rhinos in front of a huge 7,237 crowd.[49] The Bulls got their 2022 RFL Championship season off to a great start with a comprehensive 46-16 win against Dewsbury Rams with Matty Dawson-Jones and new signing Keiran Gill both scoring two tries each.[50]

Young prop forward Bradley Ho joined RFL League 1 side Keighley Cougars on a season long loan.[51] The draw for the 3rd and 4th Rounds of the 2022 Challenge Cup were made with the Bulls being drawn away to RFL Championship side London Broncos.[52] New halfback Dec Patton signed a 1 year extension to his contract to keep him at the Bulls until the end of 2023.[53] The Bulls came crashing back down to earth as they suffered a shock 28-14 loss to Sheffield Eagles in wet conditions, new centre Kieran Gill scored for the second consecutive game whilst centre Rhys Evans scored Bradford's other try.[54] Forward Chester Butler joined the Bulls on loan from Super League side Huddersfield Giants on a season long loan.[55] Bradford suffered a heavy 38-4 defeat at the hands of high flying Leigh Centurions with Gill scoring the only try for the Bulls.[56] The game against Barrow Raiders was postponed due to a water logged pitch caused by Storm Eunice.[57]

No	Player	1	2	3	5	6	7	4	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27
1	Elliot Kear	FB			FB	FB	FB	FB	FB	C	W	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
2	Matty Dawson-Jones	W	FB	W		C	W	W	W	W	C	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
3	Rhys Evans	C	C	C	B							x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
4	Kieran Gill	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	C	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
5	Ryan Millar	x	W	FB	W	W	W	W	W			x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
6	Declan Patton	SH	SH	SH	SO	SO	SO	SO	SO	SO	SO	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
7	Jordan Lilley				SH	SH	SH	SH	SH	SH	SH	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
8	Anthony Walker	P	P	P	P	P					B	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
9	Thomas Doyle	L	L	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
10	Steve Crossley	P	P	P	P	B		P	P	P	P	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
11	Aaron Murphy				C	SR	C	C	C	SR		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
12	Sam Scott	x	x	SR	SR				SR			x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
13	Ben Evans		B	L		P	B	B	B	B	B	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
14	George Flanagan	H	H	B	B	B	B	B				x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
15	Jordan Baldwinson	B	B	B	x	B	P	L	P	P	P	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
16	Ebon Scurr				B		P	P	B		B	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
17	Brad England	SR	SR	SR	x	x	SR	SR		SR		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
18	Samy Kibula			x	x	x	B	x	B	B	B	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
19	David Foggin-Johnston	W	W	W				–[lower-alpha 1]		W		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
20	Billy Jowitt	SO	SO	SO			x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
21	Elliot Hall				x	x	B	B	B	FB	FB	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
22	Joe Burton	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	–[lower-alpha 2]		W	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
23	Bradley Ho	–[lower-alpha 3]										x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
24	A.J. Wallace	SR	SR	B	x	x	L	x	x	B	SR	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
25	Muizz Mustapha	B	–[lower-alpha 4]			B	–[lower-alpha 5]	B	–[lower-alpha 6]		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
26	Corey Johnson	B	B	–[lower-alpha 7]								x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
27	Eldon Myers	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
28	Jarrod O'Connor	–[lower-alpha 8]			L	L	–[lower-alpha 9]					x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
29	Dan Fleming	B	B		B							x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
30	Chester Butler	–[lower-alpha 10]		B	SR	SR	SR	SR	SR			x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
31	Liam Tindall	–[lower-alpha 11]			W	W	–[lower-alpha 12]					x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
32	Sam Hallas	–[lower-alpha 13]							L	L	L	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
33	Sam Walters	–[lower-alpha 14]								B	SR	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

= Injured

= Suspended