Bradford Bulls look to see off threat of new rivals Keighley Cougars

The obvious answer is Leeds Rhinos, in what is, not to go too Charles Dickens, a tale of two cities.

While the two rivals, at only 10 miles apart, both have famous football clubs, the depressing truth of the matter for us is that Leeds United have been plainly more successful than Bradford City.

While the clubs are locked on a single FA Cup win apiece (cheers Jimmy Speirs), Leeds have won multiple league titles, two European trophies and a League Cup.

The gap between the two clubs at present is as pronounced as ever, with the Bantams desperately trying to escape the never-ending pit of despair that is the fourth tier, and Leeds currently enjoying a third straight season in the Premier League.

The clubs have not played each other in a league game since May 2001, the hosts winning that 6-1 at Elland Road.

And while Bantams fans understandably relish their superb 2-1 win over Leeds at Valley Parade in the League Cup in 2014, it is a game which has largely long since been forgotten in LS11.

Conversely, the rugby league rivalry between the two cities has been far more competitive over the years.

Bulls celebrate at Old Trafford after beating Leeds in the Super League Grand Final in 2005. They have not won one since. (Image: John Giles/PA.)

Leeds have the edge in the Challenge Cup, 14 wins in the competition's history putting them second in the all-time list behind Wigan.

Bradford, surprisingly given their glittering history, have only won it five times.

But the pair are far closer in terms of league titles, with Bradford actually leading that race until 2012.

As it stands now, Leeds have 11 and Bulls have nine.

That Super League Grand Final success in 2012 was, remarkably, Leeds' fifth title in six seasons, and symbolised a decisive power shift in West Yorkshire.

Bulls' decline was already well underway at that point, and while Leeds were celebrating at Old Trafford 11 years ago, the BD6 side were entering the first of three administrations in the space of five seasons.

Liquidation came in 2017, three years after Bradford’s eventual relegation from Super League, and while Bulls have fought back, the only notable game of late between the pair was the home side's shock Challenge Cup win at Odsal in 2019.

It has meant perspectives have had to shift for Bradford fans, with Halifax widely considered the biggest, regularly-played, rivalry.

A terrible defeat for Bulls against 12-man Halifax last April was one of their lowest points of last season. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

The two have shared history, both having won five Challenge Cups apiece, both having undergone well-publicised financial difficulties in the 20th and 21st century and both now craving a return to the promised land of Super League.

Insults, some friendly, some not, are thrown about between fans of the two sides on a regular basis, and the games between the pair are always eagerly anticipated.

Featherstone are another West Yorkshire side, and while it is not widely regarded as a rivalry per se, there is seemingly a real enmity between the two sets of supporters, with Bulls’ liquidation, Fev’s big spending and the respectively ‘qualities’ of each hometown often on the agenda.

There was plenty of passion on display from Bulls in their battling defeat at Featherstone earlier this month. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

York is an unlikely rivalry, and a recent one, stemming from the season the two spent in League 1 in 2018.

A ferocious title battle went the way of the Knights by two points, to the chagrin of Bulls fans, and three of the four games between the pair in 2018 and 2019 were decided by two points or less.

York were Bulls’ opponents for their glorious homecoming to Odsal after nearly two years away, the hosts winning a sunny Bank Holiday encounter 37-18 in May 2021.

Joe Brown gets over to score for Bulls as they marked their return to Odsal in May 2021 by beating York. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Then Knights head coach James Ford also complained the Odsal pitch contributed to injuries his side suffered in their 20-6 win there last year, having labelled it a “kid’s pitch” ahead of the game.

That added a little needle to the rivalry, but in truth, a lot of it comes from the pair consistently producing thrillers when they face off.

And so to Cougars, obvious rivals to Bulls given they come from the Bradford District, despite little on-pitch history between the pair to speak of.

Keighley have never won the top flight or the Challenge Cup, though one wonders the direction this rivalry might have taken had the BD21 outfit not been denied what they felt was their rightful elevation to the brand-new Super League in the mid-1990s.

The pair spent time together in the third tier in 2018, Bulls winning both games with ease, while Keighley gave Bradford a real scare in the 2019 Challenge Cup, the visitors winning 14-12 at Cougar Park.

Cougars almost pulled off a shock Challenge Cup win over Bulls four years ago, but it would be no great surprise if they beat them tomorrow. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

A victory for the hosts would have been a shock then, unlike now, four years later.

Keighley romped to the third-tier title by winning all 20 of their league games last season, and have already beaten Newcastle and London this year, while also giving Widnes and Batley major scares on the road.

But tomorrow is their real acid test, and if Cougars do win, against an in-form Bulls side, they might finally have arrived as a genuine rival to Bulls.

Having formed 147 years ago, Keighley will feel that status is long overdue.