BULLS produced a statement away win last May at London Broncos, which was their third in a row after victories in Whitehaven and Swinton earlier that month.

But Bradford head coach John Kear does not necessarily agree that away wins are any more impressive than home ones, as his side head to Dewsbury for their Championship opener tomorrow.

He said: "I don't buy into the whole away or home thing as much as others, as it's just a piece of grass that you're playing on at the end of the day, even if the surroundings might be a bit different.

"You've got to look at each game on its own merits, and it's like the old Kenny Dalglish saying goes, about treating each game equally."

Kear also insisted that it was no major advantage for tomorrow that Bulls spent part of 2020 and 2021 playing home games at Dewsbury before their return to Odsal at the end of last May.

He said: "Some of the players will have had time at Dewsbury when we were using that as our home venue.

"But there's been a fair old turnover for us in the off-season and probably eight of the likely 17 for Dewsbury have never been there as part of the home team.

"But we've practised this week using the dimensions of Dewsbury's pitch, as we would for each team we play away, so we should hopefully be able to replicate that this weekend and play well."

Dewsbury underwhelmed a little last season, only finishing 10th in the 14-team Championship, but Kear knows not to underestimate them.

He said: "It's in Dewsbury's DNA and culture that they're a tough, aggressive team who'll never give in.

"Add that to the quality of the team, and we know they will challenge us this weekend.

"They'll be hoping to catch us cold and ambush us with it being the first game of the season, so we have to make sure that doesn't happen."

Asked if pre-season had set Bulls up nicely to take on Dewsbury tomorrow, Kear said: "Each performance showed a step forward, but this Sunday is going to show us if we got it right.

"Everything now is outcome-based, not process-based like it was in those three trial games.

"So yes, it will have been a great pre-season if we get the two points against Dewsbury.

"If not, then we'll have to re-assess things a little."