This article details the Bradford Bulls rugby league football club's 2013 season, the 18th season of the Super League era.
Season review
August 2012
It was announced that academy product Tom Burgess would be joining his brothers (Luke Burgess, Sam Burgess and twin brother George Burgess) at NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs on a two-year deal. Meanwhile, young halfback Kyle Briggs announced he had signed for former club Featherstone Rovers on a two-year deal. Kyle had spent the entire 2012 season on loan at Featherstone.
September 2012
September was a positive month in terms of off-field problems as local businessman Omar Khan agreed to purchase the Bulls for £150,000 with an additional £100,000 to be paid in 2015. This move took the Bulls out of administration however their Super League status is still in jeopardy and must go through a mini-licensing process against Championship clubs Halifax, Leigh Centurions and Featherstone Rovers. Ben Jeffries announced that he was returning home to Australia at the end of the season to become a miner and play part-time for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs. Veteran second-rower Ian Sibbit announces that he will retire from rugby at the end of the season. Second rower Olivier Elima signs a 2 Year Deal with his former club Catalans Dragons as he wishes to live in his home country and send his children to a French school. Fullback Brett Kearney scooped up Player of the Year at the awards evening. However Prop Bryn Hargreaves announced his retirement to take up a degree at university. Australian coach Mick Potter announces that he will return home to his native land after working without pay at the Bulls. Good news soon followed though as the Rugby Football League (RFL) released a statement providing the Bulls with a 1-year probationary licence which means the Bulls will have to face a review at the end of the 2013 season. Francis Cummins was announced as the head coach and signs a 3 Year Deal for the job. Winger and academy product Jason Crookes Finally made his move to Hull F.C. on a 3 Year Deal after months of rumours. Utility player Chev Walker signed a 1-year extension to his contract with the Bulls. It was announced at the annual awards evening that Mick Potter won Coach of the Year for his efforts at Bradford during a hard 2012 season.
October 2012
Paul Sykes signs a 1 Year Deal with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats after spending most of the 2012 season on loan at the West Yorkshire club. After much rumour and speculation Bradford born youngster John Bateman signs an improved 3 Year Extension with the Bulls keeping him at Odsal until 2015. Leeds based Hunslet Hawks announce the signing of Bulls academy product Callum Windley on a 1 Year Deal after he was released due to the U20's being scrapped and replaced by the U23's and U19's competitions. Coach Francis Cummins released winger Karl Pryce, prop Phil Joseph and also youngster Alex Ball. Bradford's first signing of the new season came in the form of Warrington Wolves centre Matty Blythe on a 1 Year Loan Deal after Francis Cummins was heavily recommended to Blythe by Wolves coach Tony Smith. Young fullback Curtis Naughton (3 Year Deal), centre Sam Wood (2 Year Deal) and second rower Oliver Roberts (3 Year Deal) were all give professional contracts and promoted to the first team. Halfback Luke Gale signs a 3 Year extension to his contract keeping him at Bradford until 2015. Tongan prop Manase Manuokafoa signed a 2 Year Extension to his contract. October kept on being productive with the announcement that Maltese halfback Jarrod Sammut signed a 2 Year Extension with the club subject to acquiring a working visa. Academy product Danny Addy also signed a 1 Year Extension to his contract. It was announced that popular winger Shaun Ainscough would leave the Bulls after being offered less money to play, he will join the South City Bulls in New South Wales, Australia. Meanwhile, Rajas (a fast food chain) becomes the first major sponsorship by an Asian businessman in the club's history. Bradford announced that they had signed a 4-year deal with kit maker ISC who supply 7 other Super League teams with kits, this brings an end to a 5-year deal with Kooga.
November 2012
The Bulls announce their 2nd capture of the season, Warrington Wolves prop Ben Evans on a 1 Year loan deal, he is the twin brother of Wolves centre Rhys Evans. Bradford also signed St. Helens youngster Jamie Foster on a 1 Year permanent deal. On the 9th Bradford announced a record breaking sponsorship with loan firm Provident Financial, this sponsorship will be worth £1.2 million over a period of 4 years making it the biggest ever sponsorship in the Super League history, on the same day the Bulls also previewed the 2013 home shirt. Young loose-forward James Donaldson signed a 1-year extension to his contract. A couple of days before the fixtures were due to be released clubs were allowed to tweet their first home and away game of the season, Bradford announced they will kick off the 2013 season at home against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats with their second game at the KC Stadium to play Hull FC. The squad numbers were released and youngster John Bateman was handed the number 11 shirt from Olivier Elima whilst Jarrod Sammut will wear the number 6 jersey.
December 2012
The month was relatively uneventful for the Bulls, aside from the announcement that Salford City Reds prop Adam Sidlow had signed a two-year contract with Bradford and would wear the number 27 for the 2013 season.
January 2013
On loan prop Ben Evans had to have surgery on his shoulder and he was out for four months. Also former player Ian Sibbit returned to be a part of coach Francis Cummins's backroom staff. Bradford's first pre-season game saw them beat local team Dewsbury Rams 48-6; Elliott Whitehead was the star of the game, scoring 4 tries. Heath L'Estrange, Matty Blythe, Matt Diskin and Manase Manuokafoa also scored tries whilst Jamie Foster enjoyed a good performance with the boot kicking all 8 goals. The week after businesswoman of the year Kate Hardcastle joined the Bulls in a non-executive role. In their final pre-season game the Bulls drew 24–24 with Leeds Rhinos for Danny McGuire's testimonial, Jarrod Sammut and Brett Kearney both scored 2 tries each and Jamie Foster kicked 4 goals. Bradford also showed off their new purple, white and green away kit for 2013.
February 2013
The Bulls announced that their entire squad barring Matty Blythe and Ben Evans (who are on loan) have been dual registered with Dewsbury Rams; this means that anybody who doesn't get into Bradford's game day squad is available to play for the Rams. Bradford kicked off 2013 with a 40–6 win over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats; Michael Platt opened the scoring and then Matty Blythe and Adam Sidlow both scored on debut. Jarrod Sammut then grabbed a brace of tries whilst Jamie Foster and Brett Kearney also crossed to score, Foster added 6 goals to ensure the Bulls started with a win. That same weekend James Donaldson and Adam O'Brien featured for Dewsbury Rams under the dual registration and O'Brien scored 2 tries to help the Rams to an opening round victory. Bradford were due to play Hull F.C. away on 8 February but due to an accident on the M62 the game was postponed until the 10th. The Bulls were poor against a strong Hull side but Matty Blythe and Brett Kearney both managed to score in the 28–12 loss with Jamie Foster also kicking 2 goals. Bradford got back to winning ways as a Brett Kearney hat-trick helped them to a 38–12 win over Castleford Tigers. Adam Sidlow, Matty Blythe and Chev Walker also scored tries and Jamie Foster slotted over 7 goals. February finished on a sour note as the Bulls went down 36–10 to St Helens R.F.C., the Bulls were never at the races but managed to grab two late tries from Brett Kearney and Elliot Kear with former Saints player Jamie Foster kicking a goal.
March 2013
The Bulls soon got back to winning ways as they bounced back and hammered Huddersfield Giants 43-18. Jarrod Sammut had a hat-trick whilst Matty Blythe, Danny Addy, Brett Kearney and Adam O'Brien (his first Super League try) all crossed to score. Jamie Foster kicked 7 goals and Sammut slotted over a drop goal to ensure the points came to Bradford. The Bulls backed this great performance with a 22–22 draw against Widnes Vikings. Gareth Hock was sent off before halftime when the Bulls were 20–4 in front however the 12 man Widnes side fought back an appalling 2nd half Bradford to claim a point of the Bulls. Bradford's tries came from Jamie Langley, Brett Kearney, Matt Diskin and Keith Lulia whilst Jarrod Sammut kicked 3 goals. The Bulls depleted side beat a travelling Hull Kingston Rovers side 34–12 with Jamie Foster, Brett Kearney, Elliot Kear, John Bateman and Jarrod Sammut (2 tries) all scoring, Jamie Foster kicked 5 goals to ensure that the Bulls took the points. Australian centre Adrian Purtell made his comeback after suffering a heart attack against Leeds Rhinos last season. The Bulls lost away to Catalans Dragons for the second year running as Elliot Kear and John Bateman's tries weren't enough to stop the French side beating Bradford 30-10, Jamie Foster also kicked a goal. Bradford finished March with an 18–18 draw against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos, Adrian Purtell and Tom Olbison gave the Bulls a 12–12 halftime score. However Leeds fought back to lead 18–12 but a late Adam Sidlow try helped secure a point for the Bulls.
April 2013
The Bulls started April with an average performance as they beat Salford City Reds 36-24, John Bateman, Adrian Purtell, Brett Kearney and Jamie Langley all scored a try each and Jarrod Sammut scored a double. Jamie Foster added 4 goals before going off injured and Sammut added a further 2 goals. Bradford continued their impressive run of form with a 46–20 win against London Broncos. Jarrod Sammut was once again the star of the game as he ran in four second half tries and landed 6 goals to keep the Bulls in 3rd place, Elliott Whitehead also crossed for 2 tries with Danny Addy and Chev Walker each grabbing a try. Bradford were brought back down to earth with a dismal first half performance which led to a 36–6 defeat at the hands of Wigan Warriors, all six points came from Jarrod Sammut. Bradford started their Challenge Cup run with a 70–10 thrashing of lower league Rochdale Hornets. Sam Wood scored a try on his debut whilst Luke Gale and Jarrod Sammut scored 2 each. Elliott Whitehead grabbed himself a hat-trick while Jamie Langley, Chev Walker, John Bateman and Michael Platt also crossed for a try each, Jamie Foster added 2 goals before going off injured and Sammut booted a further 9 goals. They finished the month with a 32–4 loss to Warrington Wolves with the Bulls only points coming from an Adrian Purtell try.
May 2013