Bradford Bulls centre Kieran Gill admits it “feels like a Super League game” this Friday night, as he and his teammates prepare to get the Betfred Championship season underway at Wakefield Trinity.

The second-tier could not have a much more blockbuster encounter to kick things off, with two of the division’s heavyweights going toe to toe at the famous Belle Vue ground where Wakefield have played since 1895.

Trinity are a full-time side who are spending their first season outside of the top flight since 1998, while Bulls have won Super League four times since it began in 1996, with St Helens, Leeds and Wigan the only other champions in the summer era.

Both are expected to be fighting towards the top of the Championship this season, and along with Toulouse, are the only second-tier sides looking likely to have any chance of earning a Super League place in 2025, based on IMG’s grading criteria.

Friday’ encounter will be played in front of a sell-out crowd at Belle Vue, and an excited Gill told the T&A: “It’s been a long time coming, because with all the friendlies and cup games we’ve had already, it feels like we’re halfway through the season, when it’s only round one coming up.

“We’ve had the weekend off to prepare for this Friday and it feels like a Super League game.

“If you’re not fired up for this one, then you’re involved in the wrong sport.

“You’ve got two big clubs facing each other, in front of a sell-out crowd, and the atmosphere’s going to be unreal.

“We’ve just got to do what we can on the night to come out on top.”

Bulls would lay down a huge marker with a win at the title favourites on opening night, but Gill warned: “At the end of the day, we’ve got to take things step by step.

“We know Wakefield won’t make it an easy ride on Friday night, so we can’t just dip our toes in and get a feel for the season.

“We need to produce a full 80 minute performance to try and win this game, which I don’t think we’ve done yet this year.

“We need to make a statement down there, and show the rest of the competition that we want to be up there fighting at the top of the table.”

Bulls’ last competitive game against Wakefield came in March 2020, a Challenge Cup fifth-round clash that went to the wire before Trinity came from behind to claim a 17-14 victory.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jordan Lilley gets in to score for Bulls at Wakefield in March 2020, as the Championship side almost pulled off a famous Challenge Cup victory.Jordan Lilley gets in to score for Bulls at Wakefield in March 2020, as the Championship side almost pulled off a famous Challenge Cup victory. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

Gill is always ready to fight until the final hooter sounds, evidenced by his opportunist score at the death to seal a 21-12 1895 Cup quarter-final win over Swinton at the start of this month.

He said: “It just shows you’ve got to go until the 80th minute.

“The nature of that try against Swinton, that opportunity might not have come about from minutes one to 70, but you’ve really got to focus in those last 10 and always be ready for little breaks of the ball like that.

“I’ve spoken to Jordan (Lilley) about staying patient during the game, because if I stay resilient, and see half a chance late on like that, I need to be there to go for it.”