BULLS’ interim head coach Lee Greenwood has hailed Swinton’s shock 19-12 win over Toulouse last time out as the “victory of the season” and says Super League’s influence has made the Championship harder than ever.

Swinton only won twice all year when they were last in the second-tier in 2021, but already have three victories to their name this time around, stunning both Batley and Toulouse.

Throw in narrow away defeats to London Broncos and Sheffield, and the Lions appear to pose far more of a threat than they did two years ago.

Greenwood said: “We’ve not talked too much about last Sunday’s defeat at Barrow because the focus has all been on this weekend’s game against Swinton.

“I thought it was the victory of the season, them beating Toulouse, and they did it comfortably really, as they were 19-0 up at one point.

“No-one is relegation fodder any more, not with the players available on loan and on dual-registration.

“With those Super League loans only tending to be for two weeks, teams can take advantage of that.

“Swinton have had a few injuries so they were able to bring in Salford first-teamers to face Toulouse, as well as lads from St Helens and Warrington, to add to the decent players they already had.”

That was in no way a criticism of Swinton, with Greenwood adding: “Injuries determine how much we use loans and dual-registration at Bulls too and our injury list has been massive this season.

“It can be difficult because sometimes you’ll need a player for a certain spot, because you might genuinely not have anyone left to play there, and the Super League team you go to offers you someone from a different position.

“It’s not always easy, because you have to weigh up whether it’s worth taking that offer or not, and moving your players around if you do.”