Bradford Bulls 18-32 Featherstone Rovers: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

Bradford Bulls took on Featherstone Rovers at Odsal tonight in a rip-roaring, Championship clash.

Bradford took the lead through Elliott Hall, but Ben Hellewell soon replied for Rovers.

Hellewell registered another before the break to send Featherstone into half-time with a 12-6 lead.

The Bulls drew back level early in the second forty minutes through David Foggin-Johnston, but Mark Kheirallah dotted down minutes later.

Ryley Jacks notched up a hat-trick with AJ Wallace replying for Bradford, but the night belonged to Rovers.

Highlights

Matty Dawson-Jones somehow got the ball out of a big tackle for Elliott Hall to score early in the first-half.

Ryley Jacks getting a superb hat-trick to make it nine tries in seven games for the Australian recruit.

Jack Bussey’s offload for Jacks’ second was incredible.

Talking points

1. Kear is the man

Bradford fans have been calling for John Kear’s head in recent weeks – why? Kear is doing a huge job with a roster that is nowhere near that of the quality of Featherstone Rovers and Leigh Centurions, but he was still able to inspire his chargers to take the battle to Rovers. The Bulls were able to scare Rovers throughout and no doubt much of that is down to Kear.

2. Kheirallah to guide Fev to promotion

He was solid at the back all night and the former Toulouse Olympique fullback could just be the man to take Featherstone to glory in 2022. Mark Kheirallah is a Super League player in all but name and he offers that steadiness and calm head at the back.

Player ratings

Bradford Bulls

Elliott Hall – 7
Matty Dawson-Jones – 7
Elliot Kear – 6
Kieran Gill – 6
David Foggin-Johnston – 7
Dec Patton – 6
Jordan Lilley – 8
Jordan Baldwinson – 6
Tom Doyle – 9
Steve Crossley – 7
Aaron Murphy – 5
Anthony England – 5
Sam Hallas – 7
Substitutes
AJ Wallace – 8
Ben Evans – 7
Samy Kibula – 7
Sam Walters – 6

Featherstone Rovers

Mark Kheirallah – 9
Luke Briscoe – 7
Craig Hall – 8
Ben Hellewell – 8
Gareth Gale – 7
Morgan Smith – 6
Ryley Jacks – 9
Craig Kopczak – 8
Matty Wildie – 7
James Lockwood – 8
Jack Bussey – 9
John Davies – 7
Junior Moors – 6
Substitutes
Brandon Pickersgill – 7
Luke Cooper – 6
Jesse Sene-Lefao – 7
Ben Mathiou – 6