Bradford Bulls are the overwhelming favourites to finish on top of the pile in the Championship this season. The Bulls have brought Brian Noble back to the club for the upcoming campaign and with a raft of high quality signings to boot, it seems they’re the club the bookmakers fancy to claim top spot.
The West Yorkshire outfit finished third last season, behind Wakefield Trinity and Toulouse Olympique, but Betfred have them at 6/5 to finish top of the table in 2025. Of course that would be enough for the Bulls to win the League Leaders’ Shield, but it would also see them into the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs.
Promotion isn’t on the line but the Bulls have high hopes of being able to earn a Super League spot through their IMG grading before too long.
Featherstone Rovers are second favourites in the Championship regular season betting at 4/1 with the same bookmakers after their own impressive recruitment run. Toulouse Olympique, who were runners up in last year’s play-off final are third in the odds list at 5/1, while York Knights are slightly further back at 8s.
Interestingly, newly promoted Oldham are seen as fifth favourites with Sean Long’s side being priced at 10/1 for the Championship crown. The Roughyeds have recruited a string of former Super League players, such as Josh Drinkwater and Gil Dudson and it seems they’re fancied to make a splash.
London Broncos could be in for a tough year as they scramble to put a squad together following their relegation from Super League. They’re at 33/1, the same price as Halifax Panthers and Doncaster, while Hunslet, Barrow Raiders and Batley Bulldogs are tipped to struggle with the trio priced at 100/1.
The Championship gets underway on Saturday when Toulouse host Widnes Vikings at the Stade Ernest Wallon. Five more games take place on Sunday with Bradford hosting London in the pick of the contests, while Featherstone face Doncaster, Oldham take on York, Sheffield Eagles host Halifax and Barrow play Hunslet.
Predicted Championship table per Betfred’s regular season odds
1. Bradford Bulls – 6/5
2. Featherstone Rovers – 4/1
3. Toulouse Olympique – 5/1
4. York Knights – 8/1
5. Oldham – 10/1
6. Sheffield Eagles – 16/1
7. Widnes Vikings – 20/1
8. London Broncos – 33/1
9. Halifax Panthers – 33/1
10. Doncaster – 33/1
11. Batley Bulldogs – 100/1
12. Barrow Raiders – 100/1
13. Hunslet – 100/1
