THE feel-good factor is back at Bradford Bulls and for the most part, this has been reflected in their performances partway through the Betfred Championship season.

Wins against Dewsbury Rams, Whitehaven and London Broncos were the standout results, but most importantly, a return to their beloved Odsal home has posed the most significant boost.

After two years away, the club announced that they would no longer share a ground with local rivals Dewsbury Rams, and on return to Odsal, the players were met with an almighty roar from the Bulls faithful.

On the day, the emotions and ecstasy proved to be the difference maker, as Bulls powered through to a 37-18 victory against an in-form York City Knights.

But in the midst of the jubilation surrounding a return to their stomping ground, Bulls have found form and won seven out of nine games played, and here I will look back at some of the season’s key talking points so far.

Best performance- London Broncos 8-33 Bulls

It had been 436 days since the Bulls had last stepped out in front of a crowd consisting of more than just spare players, club staff and officials.

And what a treat served up for the supporters on their return.

The Bulls made it five wins on the bounce with the most emphatic yet – picking apart a team that Kear had targeted as genuine play-off rivals.

But Bulls were ruthless and capped off a fine performance with an abundance of tries.

Three tries in the first half – two scored by academy products, ahem – and a double from debutant Ellis Robson made sure the occasion lived up to the hype for the rugby-starved followers.

Worst performance- Sheffield Eagles 50-12 Bradford Bulls

Optimism is aplenty at the start of any campaign, but Bulls were left feeling shook after a dismal opening fixture against Sheffield Eagles.

Sheffield ran in several tries before half-time to make it 28-0 and they never looked back.

A rather shocking performance overall from Bradford, however it may have come as a bittersweet moment.

Bulls were well and truly dominated, but from that defeat, they were able to go on a five-game winning run and climb up to third in the table, brushing aside any early season cobwebs. As for the Eagles, they didn’t capitalise on this victory and find themselves in eighth.

Standout try- Joe Brown v Dewsbury Rams

Joe Brown may have gone down as the try scorer on this occasion, but this was all about the work from speed merchant Foggin-Johnston. The winger picked the ball up from his own line, before using his speed and trickery to devastating effect. As he drove, he left the limp Rams defenders in his wake and burst across the pitch while evading several tackles.

Running towards the last man, Johnston spotted the on-rushing Brown and laid it into the wingers’ hands perfectly. He couldn’t miss and didn’t. It was try time for the Bulls, and they went into half-time with a 28-6 lead against their ground compatriots.

Horror moment- Sam Hallas vs Featherstone

Sam Hallas is well and playing again, but the Bradford hooker had an eight-week spell on the sidelines after his jaw breaking injury against Featherstone in the Challenge Cup.

After the defeat, Hallas spoke to the T&A and recalls a scary moment from the incident.

He said: "I was on the floor and the physio and doctor came over and I remember them saying at the time, that they thought I had broken my jaw.

"“Then as I was speaking, I felt my jaw just drop and I sort of felt it in a few different parts."

The master and the apprentice

We are only partway through the campaign, but the half-back combination of Danny Brough and Jordan Lilley have certainly impressed. Lilley's game has come on tremendously, and there is no question that his game is only going to get better under the watchful eye of partner Brough.

The latter passed an extraordinary landmark in the home fixture against Dewsbury Rams- earning his 500th career club appearance, and his experience is certainly not to go a miss in this young Bulls side.

It's not only experience that Brough exerts into the team, but the man has a wand of a left foot, a left foot which rarely misses the target. And together with Lilley, the pair have created a formidable partnership full of creativity, flair, and strength. Learning from Brough will be key for Lilley.

Moment of the season

The moment of the season is undoubtedly the return to Odsal. After two years away from their iconic home, Bulls returned along with the fans. Only 4000 fans were allowed to attend due to Covid- 19 restrictions, but I’d say it was certainly a moment that will be remembered for ever in the history of the club.

The sun was shining, the fans rejoiced, and the Bulls put on a show to run out 37-18 winners against York City Knights.