BULLS played their first Super League game 25 years ago today, and kicked off their campaign in style.

Having been known as Bradford Northern since 1907, the club were rebranded ahead of the new competition, which saw rugby league revert from a winter to summer sport.

They had already reached the Challenge Cup Final by the time Super League began, beating Batley, Leigh and Wakefield, before demolishing Leeds 28-6 in the semis.

And that good form set them up nicely for March 31, 1996, when they would welcome Castleford for their Super League opener.

The new competition had actually kicked off a couple of days earlier, when Paris St Germain (yes you heard that right!) beat Sheffield 30-24 in a thriller in the French capital.

With London and title favourites Wigan both earning victories the following day, it was up to Bulls to put down an early marker on the Sunday.

And one man who was certainly up for it was new signing Jeremy Donougher.

The stocky Australian prop proved too strong for Cas, and he powered over for a hat-trick in Bulls' 30-18 victory.

As ever, captain Robbie Paul played a starring role, crossing the whitewash twice, while current Rochdale head coach Matt Calland also popped up with a score.

The experienced Paul Loughlin kicked three goals too, as Bulls put their first two Super League points on the board.

The match was played in front of an impressive crowd of 10,027, and that famous Odsal atmosphere was clearly a boost for Bradford in the inaugural Super League season, with Brian Smith's side losing just once there, to Halifax Blue Sox in their final home game of the season.

Sadly, there was no glory in 1996 for Bulls.

They blew a good lead to lose the Challenge Cup Final 40-32 to St Helens and after winning 17 of their 22 Super League games in the regular season to finish third, they were defeated 42-36 by Wigan in the Premiership Trophy Semi-Final.

But they built on that the following year, winning their opening 20 games to romp to the title in the second edition of Super League, 17 months after it all began against Cas.