Bradford Bulls 18 Huddersfield Giants 66: Koukash endures Odsal horror show as Bulls crushed by Giants

Koukash – wife of Salford’s millionaire owner Dr Marwen Koukash – was at the Provident Stadium yesterday to witness a one-sided contest as a spirited, but depleted, Bulls were simply brushed aside by a merciless 
Giants who ran in 12 tries.

She has pledged to fund some much-needed recruits to Francis Cummins’s squad if the club’s adminstrator accepts her bid – understood to be one of five on the table following last week’s deadline – and a decision is likely within the next 48 hours.

But yesterday she witnessed the real depth of the problems at Odsal, with the Bulls having to start with just one specialist prop.

Giants coach Paul Anderson, who made 178 appearances for Bradford from 1997-2004, is hoping his former club can finally start looking up under new owners.

“The real positive for them is that there are rumblings that something is going to happen,” said Anderson. “The doctor and his wife seem keen to take over and if it is them, or whoever it is, then they need to have the interests of Bradford at heart because it’s a good club. There are a lot of good people here.

“We were just happy to get the win. At times it was very slow and there was no ruck speed.

“Both teams fell down to a really slow level and we made four changes with 60 minutes gone.

“We were scrappy but we got through the game and obviously the scoreboard showed that,” added Anderson, as Scott Grix, Joe Wardle, Jermaine McGillvary and Ukuma Ta’ai each ran in two tries.

It was the Giants’ biggest win over Bradford, and they were in front after just 42 seconds. A towering kick-off from Danny Brough – who kicked nine goals from 12 attamepts – was spilled by Tom Olbinson, gifting possesion back to the visitors.

And when the ball was moved out wide, Huddersfield full-back Grix danced over the line.

Luke George looked like restoring parity when he ran the length of the field down the right flank, only for a superb covering tackle from Jodie Broughton to deny the former Giants winger yards from the line.

But the Bulls were not to be denied, keeping the pressure on, before Adam Henry stretched out his arm to ground the ball. Jamie Foster’s successful conversion edged Bradford in front 6-4.

Giants forward Craig Kopczak – who was booed by the home support, still upset at the way he left the troubled Odsal club – was proving a handful for the Bradford defence.

And they finally wilted to some fierce pressure, former Bulls centre Wardle on hand to score a well-worked try before Michael Lawrence crossed to make it 14-6.

The scoreline was threatening to run away from Bradford, as back-to-back penalties gave Huddersfield field position and Jason Chan was held on the line.

But Grix raced in for his second try before David Faiumu released the ball in the tackle and swift hands saw Luke Robinson scamper home.

Bradford needed to produce a response, but their afternoon only got worse.

Bulls fans were left seething as officials failed to give a knock-on from Lawrence, and Chan benefitted as he raced in for a try to go 32-6 ahead.

The Bulls were first to trouble the scorers in the second half, a teasing kick from Luke Gale picked out Henry who crashed over for his second try, Foster adding the extras.

Whatever Cummins said to his Bulls players at half-time certainly saw the hosts come out fired up. Brett Kearney was getting his hands on the ball, and Bradford were camped in the visitors’ half.

But they could not convert their possession into points, and Huddersfield punished them as Ta’ai powered over after good work from Brough.

That seemed to knock the stuffing out of Bradford’s fightback, as Wardle bounced his way through the home defence.

The Koukash family had vacated the executive box to sit amongst the Bulls supporters in the second half, but they could not have enjoyed what they were witnessing, Robinson slipping in McGillvary to score in the corner.

Quick thinking at a penalty from Adam O’Brien saw the substitute blast his way over, which at last brought smiles to the Koukash clan. Foster converted.

Huddersfield broke through the 50-point barrier as Ta’ai crashed over for a try and Brett Ferres pounced on a bouncing ball.

Brough converted both tries, and at 60-12, Mrs Koukash and her family had seen enough as they headed for an early exit.

McGillvary added a late converted try, to complete a harsh afternoon for Bradford.

Bradford: Kearney, George, Henry, Purtell, Foster, Sutcliffe, Gale, Manuokafoa, Diskin, Walker, Olbison, Addy, Donaldson. Substitutes: Roberts, Bridge, O’Brien, Kear.

Huddersfield: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Broughton, Brough, Robinson, Kaufusi, Wood, Kopczak, Ferres, Chan, Lawrence. Substitutes: Crabtree, Bailey, Faiumu, Ta’ai.

Referee: C Leatherbarrow (RFL).