BRADFORD Bulls are already on the back foot in their attempts to secure a Betfred Women's Super League spot next season.

Currently, there are two groups of six, with Group 1 containing the best the women’s game has to offer, the likes of York Valkyrie, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens.

Group 2 is where Bulls currently sit, part of a crop of up-and-coming sides like Leigh and Featherstone, who are looking to challenge that elite half-a-dozen.

But there will only be a single eight-team league next season, which will contain the current Group 1 sides and the two teams promoted from Group 2 at the end of 2023.

With IMG’s grading criteria the key element of their ‘Reimagining Rugby League’, clubs have been told that having a team in the revamped Women’s Super League will boost their chances of having an ‘A’ grade.

From 2025 onwards, that would guarantee their men’s team a spot in Super League, protecting them from relegation.

Bulls’ Women made a solid start to the league campaign, drawing 12-12 with current table-toppers Leigh, but it has gone downhill since.

They were thumped 42-0 by Barrow’s ladies a fortnight ago, before losing a rollercoaster clash 34-28 against Salford at Odsal on Sunday.

Bulls made a poor start and were 12-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes, but they roared back with tries from Jess Harrap, Ellena Powell and Claire Collins before the break.

Collins converted all three of those, as Bulls took an 18-12 lead into the interval.

Salford were superb in the opening 20 minutes of the second half though, scoring 16 unanswered points to lead 28-18.

But Lily Williams reduced the deficit for the hosts, before Millen Downes’ converted try brought Bulls level late on.

Yet Salford had the final say, as Bradford made a mess of a breakaway, Salford scooping up the loose ball and running in the winning score with three minutes to go.

The defeat leaves Bulls fifth in the six-team division ahead of their next league game against Castleford on Sunday, July 2.

Despite that lowly current position, a rather generous format means second to fifth would advance to the end-of-season play-offs, the winner of those joining the Group 2 champions in the revamped Women’s Super League for 2024.