LEE Gaskell believes the Bulls allowed themselves to get dragged down to Leigh's level on Sunday and admits they must learn to cope with such tactics in the Championship.

Jimmy Lowes' side appeared to be cruising after establishing a 20-6 interval advantage. The Centurions came storming back to win 36-24 but Lowes felt the performance of referee Joe Cobb was a factor and claimed "some stuff crept in that's not straight-up rugby".

Stand-off Gaskell said: "It was a bit disappointing after the first half went so well. But I think in the second half we got dragged into their game, which we expected – but not as much as that.

"You could see from the first whistle what their tactics were but we've got to be big enough to deal with that. We know it's going to happen with Championship teams, so we've got to deal with our discipline.

"Everyone is working hard for each other – it was just the discipline and a few decisions that led to us losing our way.

"They're a good side, as they showed last season, but I thought we could come and do a job. We did that in the first half but we then got caught up in a niggly game and it just wasn't good enough, to be honest."

Bulls skipper Chev Walker agreed with Gaskell's sentiments.

He said: "It was amateurish at times – certain players were thuggish. But it was anything to get a result, I reckon, and fair play to Leigh because they came away with the two points.

"We looked good in parts and probably got dragged down by them a few times.

"It's something we're not used to – the difference between the Super League and the Championship – but we've got our first taste of it now.

"We went away from the game-plan and shot ourselves in the foot by getting drawn into things and being ill-disciplined ourselves.

"It cost us and we just need to learn to deal with that sort of thing. It hurts – but it's a long year."

The Bulls host Whitehaven on Sunday and will hold a minute's silence before the game in honour of Debbie Charlton, who died in a car accident on Saturday.

The club have said they will provide the former Bradford stalwart's family all the support they need and have invited them to hold the wake at Odsal.

Gaskell said: "We'll have to look forward to Whitehaven now and put things right. It's our first home game of the season and hopefully we'll give the fans something to shout about."

Danny Addy pulled a hamstring against Leigh and could be set for a number of weeks on the sidelines.

The RFL match review panel will not assess the incidents that took place during the Leigh game until Thursday.