Bradford Bulls 12 Warrington Wolves 26

Amid the gloom which descended over the Provident Stadium yesterday came an unmistakeable shaft of light.

It came in the form of a 37-year-old New Zealander, who spoke from the heart about playing his part in restoring the Bulls to former glories.

Francis Cummins’ men were 20-0 down at the break and staring at the dismal prospect of no play-off football for the fifth year in succession.

Warrington, missing four key men, were simply too strong and too vibrant and should really have led earlier than Ben Currie’s 22nd-minute opener.

Further scores from Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan and Trent Waterhouse underlined the gulf in class between the sides.

This was the Bulls’ eighth loss in nine Super League outings and a trip to leaders Wigan is next up on Friday.

Yet positivity dripped from Robbie Hunter-Paul, who came onto the pitch and spoke to the crowd during the half-time break.

His rousing address prompted the loudest cheer of the day.

The Bradford legend, whose return to Odsal in the role of deputy director was confirmed on Saturday, even joked about digging out his boots again.

Cummins could certainly have used his talents in the absence of Luke Gale and Jarrod Sammut, his two key playmakers.

“I won’t be putting the boots back on, the fans have been asking me but I’m way too old for that!” said Hunter-Paul, the returning prodigal son whose last appearance for the Bulls came in their last Grand Final win in 2005.

But it was what came next which offered genuine cause for optimism.

“I remember being part of an amazing legacy here and we won some silverware along the way,” he said.

“My return here isn’t about recreating that legacy, it’s about creating a new legacy for the Bradford Bulls.

“It’s not going to be easy but if I wasn’t interested in tough challenges then I’d never have played rugby league. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

It was typically impressive stuff from Hunter-Paul and it is clear that, aside from the huge emotional pull of coming back to his spiritual home, he feels the club can start to climb back to where they once were.

Time will tell if Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe, who flanked the Kiwi as he was introduced to the crowd before kick-off, can preside over a genuine renaissance in the coming years.

But having Hunter-Paul’s boundless energy, drive and love for the club at their disposal can only help.

The Bulls improved after the break yesterday but late tries for Chev Walker and James Donaldson did not give Warrington too much cause for concern.

As Cummins rightly stated afterwards, however, the result became almost inconsequential following the death of Luke Gale’s mother, Gail, who passed away in the early hours yesterday after a fight with cancer.

His late withdrawal deprived the Bulls of their key playmaker and saw rookie Alex Mellor, 18, called into the squad to make his first-team debut off the bench.

Mellor and Nathan Conroy – who was 18th man yesterday – will begin life as full-time professionals this morning.

It is that kind of youthful promise and the sort of gnarled experience that Bradford-bound Garreth Carvell showed yesterday which encourages hopes of a bright future for the Bulls next season and beyond.

It is worth remembering that Bradford over-achieved at the start of the year, when they claimed a thumping win at Huddersfield and had few problems sweeping aside the likes of Wakefield and Castleford.

Form, self-belief and confidence have gradually drained from Cummins’ players and the departure of Elliott Whitehead has been an unwanted distraction.

The Bulls were shorn of the creativity of full back Brett Kearney as well yesterday due to a shoulder injury.

Kearney’s injury meant Jamie Foster started at full back, with Heath L’Estrange pushed into the halves alongside Danny Addy.

Warrington signalled their intention right from the off, fashioning a delightful handling sequence inside the opening minute which saw the ball pass through several pairs of hands.

It culminated in Elliot Kear hacking the ball clear at the expense of a goal-line drop-out and moments later Matt Diskin denied Briers when holding him up as the veteran playmaker looked certain to score.

Warrington forced another goal-line drop-out moments later but the Bulls gradually steadied themselves and began to fashion some field position of their own.

A promising move saw the ball worked to Foster, just ten metres out, but he knocked on from L’Estrange’s pass and the opportunity was spurned.

In the 22nd minute, Warrington led when Adrian Morley, having replaced Carvell moments earlier, made a strong burst and found the impressive Stefan Ratchford.

Ratchford spotted Currie advancing at pace inside the left channel and the highly-rated young back-rower showed notable pace to outstrip the home defence from 40 metres out.

Brett Hodgson failed to convert from a difficult angle and minutes later Briers was at the heart of a move which he started and finished.

His cut-out pass found Simon Grix inside the right channel before Rhys Williams’ simple pass ushered the supporting Briers over the line in the corner.

Hodgson converted to put the Wolves 10-0 up and they claimed their third try in the 32nd minute when the influential Monaghan powered past the attempted tackle of Manase Manuoakfoa and several other Bradford defenders to burrow over from close range.

Two minutes later, they struck again when, after Monaghan was held up, Ratchford found Waterhouse advancing at pace to march over the line.

That meant Warrington led 20-0 at the break but the Bulls showed some stubbornness to defend their line in the early stages of the second half.

Their good work was undone, however, in the 51st minute when L’Estrange’s errant pass flew straight into the arms of Bradford old boy Ryan Atkins, who scampered clear from 40 metres out.

Still the Bulls refused to throw in the towel.

In the 65th minute, John Bateman was held up in the left corner just as he looked to have barrelled over.

But the Bulls kept the ball alive and a quick pass from Addy sent Walker powering over from close range for a try which Foster converted.

The Bulls continued to probe but much of their endeavour was undermined by handling errors.

Mellor came on in the 71st minute to make his bow and in the dying embers Donaldson crashed over from close range to ensure Bradford had the final say.