Bradford Bulls look set to be boosted by the return of star trio Andy Ackers, Joe Mellor and Ryan Sutton ahead of their round 13 Super League clash against York Knights.
Head coach Kurt Haggerty has confirmed that the absent trio are either sure to play or in line to play against the Bulls’ fellow promoted club, in a game that holds plenty of weight.
Bradford have recorded four wins from twelve so far on their return to Super League and all four have come at Odsal, where they will play against the Knights on Friday, June 5th.
The Bulls’ impressive home form will likely have them favourites for that match anyway but they’ll be even more fancied if that key trio is back, with Haggerty offering a comprehensive injury update after Bradford lost to Warrington Wolves.
“We’re okay. Chris Atkin has a dislocated finger and I think Caleb has a split on his eye but we’re okay,” he confirmed when speaking in a presser shared on the club’s YouTube channel.
With a week off, it means players will have a chance to recover but for Haggerty, it means an opportunity to train in a game scenario.
“I’m hoping we can get close to it, 13 on 13 (training), I really do hope we can get to that.
“It will help, it helps with repetition and it also puts pressure on players because lads are coming back.”
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Bradford Bulls hoping to welcome back five or six for York clash
Among those coming back could be Andy Ackers who despite being named in the pre-match squad ultimately was left out for his own good.
Haggerty explained: “Ackers wanted to play but I made the call not to play him. He wasn’t in a good place with his shoulder and when you’re a hooker, you have to make a lot of tackles.
“It just wasn’t the right call to play Andy. I’m hoping (he’ll be good in two weeks).”
A similar call was made on Ryan Sutton, who Haggerty explained has been chomping at the bit but has been held back in the hope that he can return against the Knights.
The Bulls head coach said: “I think if it was Ryan’s choice, he’d have played for five or ten minutes if he could but ultimately, the medical staff, and my decision was that it wasn’t right to play.
“It was still way too early. I think York will be a push but I’m pretty sure he’ll play against York.”
Haggerty also explained that Joe Mellor will be back for the game against York and so could a number of others with Haggerty teasing: “We could be looking at potentially five or six players back for the York game.”
A loss to the Knights would see Bradford leapfrogged on the Super League ladder by their fellow promoted side, whilst a win could see them climb as high as ninth dependent on Castleford Tigers and Hull FC results.
