Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty knows that this week has been a little bit different as his side prepare to face Leeds Rhinos in Super League for the first time in 12 years.
Go back to the early days of Super League and you are greeted with Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos serving up some of Super League’s best matches at the distinctive bowl of Odsal Stadium.
They were two titans of the early days, with ‘Bullmania’ taking charge before Leeds Rhinos took their crown.
As Leeds grew even bigger as the ‘Golden Generation’ of Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, and Kevin Sinfield took control, Bradford’s financial issues began to be laid bare until they were eventually relegated in 2014.
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Highlights of the Super League match between Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves
But now, 12 years on, Super League gets to see one of its most iconic derbies at the forefront once again. The first official Super League derby between Leeds and Bradford since 2014.
Intriguingly, there is just two points separating Leeds Rhinos in third and Bradford Bulls in sixth heading into this showdown.
How sweet it would be for Bradford to mark their return to the top flight with a derby win to remember on Good Friday on home turf.
They are looking to bounce back from their loss to Castleford while Leeds are flying high after they brought an end to Warrington’s unbeaten start to the season.
For Bulls head coach Haggerty, it is not lost on him just how long the fans have waited for this moment and he hopes his side can keep in check of their emotions and “put on a show” at Odsal.
“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.
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Highlights of the Betfred Super League match between Castleford Tigers and Bradford Bulls
“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 game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
