Bradford Bulls are embracing their Challenge Cup draw with head coach Kurt Haggerty welcoming a very tough test.
Whilst not confirmed at the time of writing, it’s expected that Bradford will have to travel to face Championship favourites London Broncos, who many would argue have a squad that could compete in Super League.
Speaking ahead of Bradford’s friendly against Leeds Rhinos and before London took on their Challenge Cup opponents Wests Warriors, Haggerty addressed the tough tie and labelled it the “perfect practice” for their Super League campaign.
Where many would view it as a potential banana skin, the Bulls coach took it as a major positive and a way to effectively get in a Super League-level game before the Super League season actually starts.
Speaking to the media before the Leeds clash, he said: “I think it’s a really good tie for us. The way I’m viewing it and the way I’ll sell it to the group, is we’re playing a Super League game before a Super League game.
“Having the Leeds game and having the London game leading into Hull FC in round one, it’s perfect practise for us going into the season.”
Possible London Broncos cup tie the ‘best prep’ for Bradford Bulls’ Super League return
London have compiled a squad that has a handful of former NRL players as well as plethora of Papua New Guinean internationals, plus some former Super League players including ex-Bradford Bulls man Liam Tindall.
On the Challenge London present, Haggerty admitted: “They’re a very good team, they’ve got some fantastic players, so it’ll be a real challenge for us to go up there, but it’s a challenge for us, so we’re looking forward to it.”
The Challenge Cup new format sees Super League clubs seeded away to Championship or community clubs and that format saw Bradford be the only lower-league side to defeat Super League opposition in 2025, when they knocked off Castleford Tigers at Odsal.
Haggerty will hope that London cannot do the same and whilst he’s aware of the danger, he was still embracing the fixture because of what it means for the club’s Super League preparation.
He explained: “We need to get into the cycle of Super League now and we’ve got a really good trip to London in the Challenge Cup so effectively, we’ve got a Super League game before a Super League game.
“I think we’ve got the best prep that we could have going into the season.”
Bradford will find out later today if it is London they play or if Wests Warriors can pull off the upset and progress to round three to meet the Bulls.
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