Bradford Bulls reporter believes there is ‘something clearly wrong’ behind the scenes at Odsal

Bradford Bulls have been one of rugby league’s enigmas in 2022.

Buoyed by optimism and anticipation at the beginning of the season, the West Yorkshire side collapsed midway through the year which led to veteran head coach John Kear leaving the club and his assistant Mark Dunning getting the job.

Since then, not much has improved and Bradford sit outside the play-offs in ninth position with ten wins from 22 games.

Ironically the team currently sat above them are the Widnes Vikings whose new head coach is Kear himself.

However, Bradford Bulls reporter The Game Caller believes that, on the evidence of performances in 2022, that something has gone wrong at the club and that a whole overhaul is needed heading into 2023.

“How do you instil consistency into those performances? John Kear always used to say it was side before self,” The Game Caller said on The Full Eighty Minutes podcast.

“But, I’m watching the players body language more now and there’s something clearly wrong behind the scenes.

“I’m seeing arguments amongst players, I’m seeing players get substituted off and they are arguing with the coach why they are coming off.

“Fans are asking why they are coming off and the players say they don’t now and go and sit on their own.

“It is a very fractured and fragmented squad and 16 players will go and a lot of players are coming in – something has gone wrong behind the scenes.”

Some of those linked with a move away have been Bradford winger Matty Dawson-Jones who has been linked with the Sheffield Eagles, as per Rugby League Live, whilst AJ Wallace has also been rumoured with a move back to Super League after leaving the Leeds Rhinos where he came through the academy set-up.