Walker admits Bradford were dragged down a level by ‘thuggish’ Leigh

Bradford Bulls veteran Chev Walker has acknowledged that his team struggled to come to terms with the physicality of their opening day contest with Leigh.

The Bulls came back from their trip to Lancashire on the wrong end of a 36-24 scoreline.

There were also six yellow cards, with the contest reduced to 11-a-side for a time.

“It was amateurish at times – certain players were thuggish,” Walker said, according to the Bradford Telegraph & Argus.

“But it was anything to get a result, I reckon, and fair play to Leigh because they came away with the two points.

“We looked good in parts and probably got dragged down by them a few times.

“It’s something we’re not used to – the difference between the Super League and the Championship – but we’ve got our first taste of it now.

“We went away from the game-plan and shot ourselves in the foot by getting drawn into things and being ill-disciplined ourselves.

“It cost us and we just need to learn to deal with that sort of thing. It hurts – but it’s a long year.”