JAY Pitts has delivered a brutally honest assessment of the Bulls' season as he vowed to end it on a high by lifting the Championship Shield.

Defeat to relegated Workington last weekend marked a new low in a year which saw Rohan Smith's men fail to reach the top four.

Bradford spent over £1million on players this year but part-time outfits Batley and Featherstone finished above them after 23 regular rounds.

Jimmy Lowes, Steve Ferres and Robbie Hunter-Paul all quit the club during a troubled campaign and Pitts is adamant that his side must end the year on a positive note.

The London Broncos-bound forward is among a large group of players leaving the club and is targeting victory against Sheffield on Sunday.

"Losing at Featherstone was devastating because of how much was riding on it – but the Workington defeat was probably the lowest point of the season," said Pitts.

"All the lads were absolutely gutted with ourselves after the game because we know we are better than what we produced up there.

"Whoever goes on to that pitch, from one to 17, is there to do a job for Bradford Bulls and win for Bradford Bulls.

"I wouldn't question anybody's effort whatsoever against Workington, I think it was just the smartness of how we played.

"We were dumb in patches and got caught up with the referee again. We try and fix things that are out of our control, whereas we don't fix things up that are in our control.

"Emotionally, we let it get to us again and it has ended up biting us on the backside."

Pitts added: "The players that Rohan puts together on the field, we are all in it together, regardless of whether we are staying or going.

"Nobody is more disappointed than myself – and the rest of the players, we are all hurting just as much. I know it was terrible for all the fans who travelled up and we let them down.

"We've got to find out why it's happening and fix things up quickly because we've got a big game coming up against Sheffield this weekend.

"These final few games will be the last time this group of lads will play together.

"There are a lot of changes taking place and as a player, whatever club you're at, you want to finish on a high and not leave with bad memories.

"Even though it has been a terrible year for us – and we are all part of that – we still have a chance to come away with something, even though it wasn't what we set out to achieve. We have to win the Shield now."

Bradford's decline this season has been in stark contrast to the fortunes of Leigh, who have secured promotion with two games to spare in the Qualifiers.

A run of five straight wins have fired Neil Jukes' side into Super League and Pitts said: "It's unbelievable what Leigh have done and it proves the structure works.

"We came so close last year in getting to the Million Pound Game and just fell short. But to win five games and beat three Super League teams is a fantastic achievement.

"Leigh will be playing Super League rugby next year and no-one can take that away from them.

"They deserve everything they've got – but when we have played them this year, we have matched them.

"It's the other games that we haven't got up for which led to us missing out on the top four."

Pitts accepts that the Leigh games have probably seen the Bulls' best performances this campaign and the players have had no problem getting up for those fixtures.

He said: "We know we have the ability but we just haven't done it week in and week out. We've been so inconsistent and that's why we have ended up where we are.

"It's not good enough and collectively, as a group of blokes, we know we have underachieved.

"It's bitterly disappointing with what's happened this year but we've got to move on against Sheffield and get the win.

"I try wearing my heart on my sleeve when I play, so I'll do my best in these remaining games and help us to hopefully finish on a high."