Last rites have not been issued but already an inquest into the Bulls’ 2011 season has begun.

Approaching the halfway point in a campaign once filled with hope, supporters sold the dream of an exciting new era claim to be stuck in a recurring nightmare.

Five games without a win, causing a slide to 11th in Super League, have turned buzz words of ‘patience’ and ‘progress’ into hollow talk.

Instead, conversation has been dominated by an urgent need for results and, although it still seems premature to write off Mick Potter’s Bradford, the next four games are make or break.

A televised Challenge Cup tie at Halifax on Sunday could represent either a significant banana skin for a team struggling to regain self-belief or a welcome confidence-booster against lower-division opposition.

Lined up after the Shay derby are trips to Hull KR and Harlequins, currently one place below and one above Bradford respectively, and a home game against Salford – all winnable and all vital if Potter’s side are to reach the play-offs.

At the moment that goal seems some way off, especially set against the wider context of long-term fortunes.

Almost exactly a year ago, the Bulls jumped into fourth place thanks to an impressive 29-10 win at Wakefield but the 12 months since have told a depressing tale.

In that time they have managed just five wins, including two more against the Wildcats and one each against Crusaders, Castleford and Quins.

In clashes with last year’s top seven – Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Leeds, Huddersfield and both Hull clubs – they have been utterly wretched.

All 14 fixtures have resulted in defeat but it’s the manner that has been most worrying.

Those 14 games have yielded just 246 points for the Bulls at an average of 17.6 per game, while conceding 565 at a rate of more than 40.

Consequently, only Wakefield have scored less points in Super League this year. Only Salford and Crusaders have conceded more.

But where does the blame lie?

Potter has been quick to shoulder the responsibility but to call for change at the top is knee-jerk in the extreme, especially as much of the suffering had been inflicted before his arrival.

Turning our glance to the round-ball game, Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as one of the greatest British managers of all time, yet needed almost four years at the helm before bringing a first piece of silverware to Manchester United.

Supporters and journalists alike had called for the manager’s head just five months before he clinched the FA Cup in 1990 and the club have not looked back since.

Potter came to Odsal charged with rebuilding fortunes after the worst season in the club’s Super League history, largely hailed as the right man for the job.

Nothing has changed. The Aussie’s track record still speaks for itself and he remains extremely well respected among both players and peers.

Fixing up defence, particularly on the edges, remains a priority Potter must address but often he has been let down by the very people charged with putting plans into action.

There are a handful of players who have consistently earned trust and respect but others who must start proving their worth on a more regular basis.

A basic inability to stick to the game plan laid out by the coaches – possibly through a lack of teamwork, possibly a lack of on-field guidance – has become seriously frustrating.

During Sunday’s 58-14 defeat to Warrington, the Bulls enjoyed a better completion rate and more time in possession than their opponents but did nothing with it.

Poor last-tackle options were regularly exposed by the Wolves, who were allowed to score six tries directly from errors.

One of those tries appeared particularly telling, when Michael Monaghan intercepted a grubber from Olivier Elima and raced the length of the field to score.

The fact that Elima felt the need to put in the kick himself sums up the current situation.

Injuries haven’t helped – particularly those to Jamie Langley, Nick Scruton and Brett Kearney – but in Kearney’s absence, Marc Herbert must step up and lead this team as playmaker-in-chief.

Bradford have leaders elsewhere on the pitch but it is at half-back where the need is greatest.

The fact that more than half their tries have been scored by forwards points to a lack of creativity, as well as a failure to carry out set-plays effectively.

Maybe the long-term solution is further recruitment but, with that option currently exhausted, the club are relying on improvement from the current batch of players.

It’s in there, somewhere, but only hard work, composure and a winning mentality will allow them to live up to their club’s proud Super League history.

Even beleaguered Wakefield have managed to pick up five wins while battling against a four-point deduction with a shoestring budget and a hastily-assembled squad, so there’s no reason why the Bulls can’t come out fighting against their own adversity.