WITH just over two-thirds of the Betfred Championship season gone, there are fascinating battles wherever you look, with Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars both heavily involved in what promises to be an end-of-season run in full of twists and turns.

Last year was a bit of a damp squib in the second tier in truth.

After a decent early battle between Featherstone and Leigh, the latter went bold with their recruitment as the former fell away.

With the then-Centurions running away with every game, including a remarkable 100-4 success over play-off side York, there was never any doubt that they were going up.

The fact they are now in a Challenge Cup final and genuine contenders to win Super League less than 12 months later perhaps shows how no-one else stood a chance.

And unfortunately, with Bulls, Sheffield and Widnes under-performing badly, the top-six was pretty much locked in midway through the year.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Bulls lost this game to Whitehaven last year, one of a number of terrible displays at Odsal.Bulls lost this game to Whitehaven last year, one of a number of terrible displays at Odsal. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

There was also little drama in the relegation battle, with extremely poor Dewsbury and Workington sides picking up seven and two points all season respectively.

On and off the field though, there is plenty to keep us interested this time around.

Fev are streaking clear at the summit, but many of their fans do not seem fully convinced.

They were humbled at home to a Toulouse side last month, who have struggled to win away all season, while they only edged to a 20-10 win at second-bottom Barrow last time out, after being level at the break.

They face a litmus test game at home to high-flying Batley today, which should really show us their credentials.

As for the play-offs, Toulouse and Batley look certain to join them there, but the French side’s away form has been poor, while the Bulldogs lost at home to London just a few games ago.

The rest of the places in the top-six feel as if they are up for grabs.

Sheffield, Bradford and Halifax currently occupy the remainder of those coveted spots, but with London, Widnes and York in form below them, there is still chance for everything to change with eight games to go.

Bulls will hope the experience among their ranks, led by the likes of Michael Lawrence, James Segeyaro and Lee Gaskell, sees them over the line, and games like Monday’s against Barrow are surely must-win, especially with tricky fixtures against Featherstone and Batley still to come.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Lee Gaskell's displays in the halves could be key to Bulls earning a play-off place.Lee Gaskell's displays in the halves could be key to Bulls earning a play-off place. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

And what of the relegation battle too? There wasn’t really any drama down at the bottom last year, but in this final season of automatic promotion and relegation, more on that later, it could not be more tense.

Keighley started the season brightly, and looked to be on course for mid-table at least, if not a possible play-off berth.

But it has been all downhill since April, with popular head coach Rhys Lovegrove being relieved of his duties and the club losing vital marquee players in Luke Gale, Dane Chisholm, Ben Crooks and Brenden Santi, the results have nosedived.

With just one win since May 7, Keighley have slumped to just one point above the drop zone, with many now expecting them to fall through the trapdoor.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Cougars suffered a disappointing home loss to Swinton last month as part of their slide.Cougars suffered a disappointing home loss to Swinton last month as part of their slide. (Image: JT Sports Media.)

But with club icon Matt Foster replacing struggling interim boss Jy-mel Coleman earlier this month, the Cougars improved last time out against Widnes, and may be galvanised by having a former star player to look up to.

Key players like Lewis Young and Mark Ioane are returning from lay-offs too, giving them hope.

Whitehaven were expected to go down given their dire financial status, but an inspired outfit have kept chipping away, and sit three points above the drop.

Fellow Cumbrians Barrow have given plenty of teams a game this year, including completely humiliating their upcoming opponents Bulls at Craven Park, yet the undoubtedly talented side sit a point off safety.

Swinton went down with a whimper in 2021 from the Championship, but after bouncing straight back up, they have shown far more resolve this time around and sit a point clear of the drop.

Newcastle admittedly look likely to fall, on seven points and needing three wins from their final eight matches to have a chance of survival.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Bulls won at Newcastle earlier this season but did not have it all their own way.Bulls won at Newcastle earlier this season but did not have it all their own way. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

But they have picked up victories in two of their last five, and have also run Sheffield and York agonisingly close this year, so are by no means whipping boys.

Throw IMG into the mix, meaning clubs this year not only have one eye on the league table, but another on how the club is performing off the field, and everyone has something to play for regardless of league position.

We already know it is all but certain that only a handful of Super League clubs will be guaranteed that top-flight status from 2025, meaning certain Championship clubs, Bulls included, really have something to fight for.

And with a new TV deal looming, hopefully it will be of real positive benefit for those in the Championship and aid clubs with their central funding, as well as giving them a non-Monday night slot on the box.

We’re often told about how exciting and unpredictable Championship rugby league is, and it looks as if we’re really starting to see that in 2023.