Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty admits this week has felt different as his side prepare to face Leeds Rhinos in a Super League derby for the first time in 12 years.
In the early Super League years, Bradford and Leeds produced some of the competition’s most memorable matches at Odsal Stadium, with ‘Bullmania’ and then Leeds’ ‘Golden Generation’ of Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield dominating the era. Bradford’s financial struggles and eventual relegation in 2014 ended regular meetings between the sides — until now.
This Good Friday fixture marks the first official Super League derby between Leeds and Bradford since 2014. The two clubs are separated by just two points heading into the game, with Leeds third and Bradford sixth, making the matchup significant for league standings as well as local pride. Bradford will want to mark their return to the top flight with a memorable win at Odsal. The Bulls are aiming to respond from their defeat to Castleford, while Leeds come into the contest on the back of a victory that ended Warrington’s unbeaten start to the season.
Haggerty says the club has felt the occasion build and that managing emotions has been a key part of preparation. “You would be lying if you said this week didn’t feel a little bit different,” he said. “This club has waited a long time for this game. The lads, you have felt the environment is palpable this week. It has hit a little bit different. We have probably had to manage the emotion around the game building up to it.
“We have had to pull back a bit and focus just on the game at the moment. Because one of these has not been played for such a long time, especially being a Super League game, there is a lot of emotion around both teams being Super League and the Bulls in particular being back in Super League. Playing a local derby, at Odsal, I don’t think you get much bigger. Everybody had looked at the calendar to when Leeds at home was in particular. It is going to be a big day for the club, a huge day for the fans. I hope we can put a show on and give the best versions of ourselves in a local derby for our fans.”
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
– Rivals Round: April 3–April 5
– Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6 — Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
– Magic Weekend: July 4–July 5
– Rivals Round reversed: July 23–July 26
– Elimination Play-offs: September 19–September 20
– Play-off semi-finals: September 26–September 27
– Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford
Sky Sports will again show every Super League game live this season — including two matches each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+.