{"id":485257,"date":"2026-03-20T04:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T04:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/485257\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T04:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T04:56:12","slug":"bradford-bulls-pretty-close-to-crisis-says-boss-as-11-players-unavailable-for-huddersfield-giants-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/485257\/","title":{"rendered":"Bradford Bulls “pretty close” to crisis says boss as 11 players unavailable for Huddersfield Giants clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kurt Haggerty believes that Bradford Bulls are \u201cpretty close\u201d to an injury crisis, as his squad continues to be at the bare bones.<\/p>\n

Bradford have currently have 11 first teamers unavailable either through injury or suspension, meaning that around a third of the Bulls squad is sat in the stands.<\/p>\n

The likes of St Helens and Huddersfield Giants may have more injuries, but for a newly-promoted side to have that many players out, Haggerty and his men are certainly doing it tough at the minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very short. Very short,\u201d said Haggerty in his weekly press conference when asked how numbers were looking this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a team meeting today, we\u2019ve trained,\u00a0I usually like to give them the team early in the week,\u00a0but I\u2019ve not been in that position today to give them the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I am right now, I don\u2019t know what my 17 looks like from this week\u2026 if I can name a 21 [man squad] , I\u2019d be very, very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if things had reached crisis proportions yet, Haggerty replied: I think we\u2019re pretty close.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re pretty close,\u00a0but again, every team\u2019s going through the same thing at the moment,\u00a0and that\u2019s the reason you have a squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever happens we\u2019ll deal with it. We\u2019ll have bodies ready and fit to go, and the narrative won\u2019t change. They come in, work hard, and then we\u2019ll prepare to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since his press conference, which took place on Tuesday, Bradford have added three new players to their side, with Jack Ormondroyd joining on a season-long loan from Oldham, Chris Atkin making a permanent switch from Castleford Tigers and Tray Lolesio making a one-week switch from Wakefield Trinity.<\/p>\n

Hull FC under pressure, Huddersfield Giants in crisis and shock Super League predictions \u2013 click here to watch the latest episode of the Serious About Rugby League Show<\/a><\/p>\n

The 11 Bradford Bulls players ruled out for Huddersfield Giants tie<\/p>\n

Bradford are currently dealing with two suspensions and eight injuries, with both Eliot Peposhi and Loghan Lewis serving bans for incidents that occurred in defeat to St Helens.<\/p>\n

Peposhi was given a red card for a high tackle on George Delaney, with the Match Review Panel handing him 21 points, which saw him pass the three-match ban threshold.<\/p>\n

Lewis was given 15 points for a Grade D dangerous contact which saw Saints forward Jacob Host break his leg. Lewis will serve the second of a two-match ban this week.<\/p>\n

In terms of injuries, Bradford are still without Jayden Okunbor and Dan Russell, both of whom suffered blows in the round one defeat to Hull FC.<\/p>\n

Joe Keyes is still suffering with a back injury, and is currently the only player at the club to see seen as a \u2018long-term\u2019 absentee, whilst Will Gardiner is back on the field after tearing his hamstring in pre-season.<\/p>\n

Haggerty refused to put a timeline on Gardiner\u2019s return, but did say how pleased he was with the former Hull FC man\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n

Ebon Scurr is also out with a hamstring tear, and is around two weeks into a six-week layoff, whilst Brandon Douglas will be back available next week but concussion protocols rule him out for Friday\u2019s fixture.<\/p>\n

Eribe Doro and Waqa Blake, were both said to be \u201c50\/50\u201d, though neither have made the 21-man squad and have not been risked by Haggerty.<\/p>\n

Zac Fulton\u00a0is also left out of the side, despite passing a HIA in defeat to Wigan last week.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc65 SQUAD | Kurt Haggerty has named his @ASNDoors<\/a> 20-Man Squad for Friday night\u2019s clash with Huddersfield Giants at Bartercard Odsal Stadium (8:00pm kick off).<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcd6 | https:\/\/t.co\/dCrRRfyV6M<\/a>#RunWithTheBulls<\/a> | \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/9bkFzJXfv2<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XOYGxbVP7e<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bradford Bulls (@OfficialBullsRL) March 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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