BRADFORD Bulls have already ticked off some impressive milestones this season, and a win in tomorrow’s hostile atmosphere at Cougar Park would add “another string to their bow”, according to head coach Mark Dunning.

Fourth-placed Bulls have already won more games at Odsal in 2023 than they did in the whole of last year, they handed Toulouse their only defeat of the Betfred Championship season to date, and they have given a clutch of young Leeds Rhinos talents the chance to shine on dual-registration.

Their one Achilles heel so far has been defeats in both of their away games, to York and Featherstone, so a win at Bradford District rivals Keighley this weekend would be most welcome.

Dunning told the T&A: “It’s another challenge we’ve not faced yet this weekend, playing in front of a hostile crowd in a derby, so it's a chance to add another string to our bow.

“But we back ourselves to stick to those processes that have served us well this season.

“If we can do it and pull off a win there it’ll be satisfying.”

This is not the Cougars side that Bulls thrashed home and away on their way to promotion from League 1 in 2018 either.

Keighley romped to the third-tier title last year by winning all 20 of their league games, and as well as already beating Newcastle Thunder and London Broncos this season, they came agonisingly close to getting something from away games at Widnes Vikings and Batley Bulldogs.

Dunning said: “I’ve watched Keighley’s last three games and they’ve got real quality in their ranks.

“They’ve got that experience in the halves with (former Bulls duo) Luke Gale and Dane Chisholm, and real pace in the likes of Lewis Young.

“They’ve got some big lads up front who can do some damage too like Brenden Santi, who we got to know when he played for our reserves last year.

“We know they like to do things ‘the Cougars way’ and it’ll be bouncing at their place this weekend.”

While Bulls have not had any joy on the road so far this term, the opposite is true at Odsal.

Three of Bulls’ most miserable home defeats last year were to Whitehaven, Widnes and Sheffield, but they have already avenged all of those in 2023.

Widnes and Sheffield have otherwise made bright starts too, so factor in Bradford’s win over Toulouse as well, and it is hard not to be impressed with their four league wins from six so far.

Dunning said: “We’ve started well and have played against some good sides.

“Even as bad as we were at York, we still competed with them.

“The squad feels connected, there’s a synergy, and there’s a common goal for all of us.”

That connectivity extends to the fanbase, with the names of the club’s ‘early bird’ season ticket holders to feature on Bulls’ soon to be designed third shirt.

Dunning, a proud Bradfordian himself, said: “That’s another example of what the club is trying to do.

“We feel connected as a club, but we have to have that togetherness with the fans too.

“Putting those season ticket holders’ names on the shirt is a nice touch and one I’m very happy with.

“It’s a memento they can buy and keep forever.”