Blake Scores Twice As Bradford Beat Catalans

20 February 2026


Bradford (24) 28


Tries: Ackers, Blake (2 ), Aekins Goals: Milnes (6 )


Catalans (0) 10


Tries: Faataape, Sexton Goals: Sexton


Bradford Bulls marked their very first Super League home match for 12 years with an emphatic 28-10 win over Catalans Dragons.


Converted attempts from Andy Ackers, Waqa Blake and Caleb Aekins were included to by 3 charge objectives by Rowan Milnes for a 24-0 lead at half-time.


Quickfire ratings from Solomona Faataape and Toby Sexton threatened a stunning Dragons return in the 2nd half.


But Blake scored again to secure a for the Bulls at Odsal Stadium.


Bradford took an early lead through Ackers, who weaved in the past powering over the line from close variety after Joe Mellor kept the move alive.


Milnes kicked 2 penalties from under the sticks inside 22 minutes, punishing a string of mistakes by the Dragons.


The visitors were rejected by a no-try call when Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui thought he had actually scored on the line, but the video referee supported the choice, ruling that he had actually not touched the ball down.


It proved to be a key minute as Milnes added a third charge objective before Blake raced away after a quick team move from right to left to score the Bulls' 2nd shot.


Aekins then darted through a gap left by the Catalans' front row for a 3rd shot.


Three minutes after the break, the Dragons were given a gift when Ethan Ryan's loose pass was pounced on by Faataape, who could not believe his luck as he ran in to rating.


The momentum was with the visitors, and another Bradford error, this time from Aekins, was penalized as Sexton went over, however his conversion effort went broad to leave the deficit at 14 points.


Ryan nearly made amends for his error by catching a long Milnes kick inside the Catalans' half before setting Esan Marsters away, however the video referee prohibited the shot, ruling that Ryan had actually been taken on during the play.


Blake included his 2nd try minutes later after Ryan combined with Milnes to cap an excellent triumph.


Bradford progress pleases Haggerty - response


Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty informed BBC Radio Leeds:


"I actually delighted in the first half. I really took pleasure in parts of the 2nd half, particularly defensively.


"We were truly careless with the ball in the 2nd half, however I liked how we turned Catalans away. We demonstrated how fit we are ... and how far we have actually been available in a brief area of time.


"The belief of the group is really crucial, we've got another tough game [coming up against Toulouse], it's week to week this. You can't simply peak due to the fact that we have actually got an excellent crowd at Odsal.


"We'll definitely won't enjoy, we'll deal with the 2nd half, we'll repair it."


Bradford: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Blake, Ryan; Hooley, Milnes; Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Chamberlain, Fulton, Mellor.


Interchanges: Souter, Scurr, Doro, Peposhi.


Catalans: Staines; Makinson, Cotric, Faataape, Simm; Sexton, Dodd; Satae, Da Costa, Navarrete, Lipowicz, Condon, Leeming.


Interchanges: Fa'asuamaleaui, Allen, Lis, Chan.


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20 February