Bradford Bulls vs York Knights Prediction: 9/2 Balmforth to register in Bulls win

It's a battle of the Betfred Super League new boys on Friday night at Odsal as Bradford Bulls host York Knights at the wrong end of the table (kick-off 8pm, Sky Sports+).

Bradford have won four of 12 games on their return to the big time - all of them at home - and will hope to grab another two points against a Knights side just behind them in the table. Here are my Bradford Bulls vs York Knights predictions, full team news and the latest match odds from Betfred.

Bradford Bulls vs York Knights Odds

The Bulls are 2/5 favourites for the win, with York 23/10 to pick up the two competition points. The draw in normal time is a 14/1 shot.

Team News

Bulls boss Kurt Haggerty has had to deal with a very unwelcome injury crisis on a run that has brought just one win from the last seven.

There are signs that it is starting to ease however, with some key names back in contention for this one. Wingers Ethan Ryan and Guy Armitage are both named in a 21-man squad, as is forward Ebon Scurr.

The versatile Joe Mellor has been a brilliant signing from Salford, and he returned to training this week along with prop Ryan Sutton. Both are included in the squad.

York boss Mark Applegarth has had injury issues of his own and is without his main man this week. Former Man of Steel Paul McShane misses out in a big blow, but there is better news elsewhere.

Former Warrington prop Paul Vaughan is back, along with veteran Jordan Thompson and half-back Liam Harris. On-loan Harvey Reynolds also comes in. Will Roberts drops out with McShane.

York also saw veteran forward Josh Griffin admit defeat to injury this week and announce his retirement from the sport.

Bradford by 1-12 @ 2/1

It has been a tough first season in the Betfred Super League for York, who lie 12th - just one position behind a Bulls side who have looked good at home but struggled away.

Bradford have won four matches this season, all of them at home, and Odsal will expect another victory here.

I anticipate this could be a tough night for the Bulls, who edged out another struggling side in Hull FC 16-14 on their last home appearance.

I do feel Bradford are the better equipped of the two however, and have this down as something of a hard-fought home win.

These sides met twice in the Betfred Championship last season, with York winning both games by just two points. A third meeting - in the 1895 Cup - also went the Knights' way, that one by eight points, so this could be a 1-12 point job either way.

I have the Bulls grinding this one out to buck that recent trend.

Rugby League Odds

Denive Balmforth Anytime Tryscorer @ 9/2

In the anytime market this year the Bulls have been pretty kind to me.

The two players I tend to back to score are two of their former Salford stars in half-back Jayden Nikorima (7/4) and winger Ethan Ryan (10/11).

For York you won’t go too far wrong with former NRL flyer David Nofoaluma (6/4).

He scored a late try in York’s last outing a couple of weeks ago, while back-up hooker Denive Balmforth helped himself to a double in that Catalans defeat off the bench following McShane’s injury.

At 9/2 to score anytime, he could be a very shrewd punt too.