Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls Prediction: Super League giants renew hostilities on Merseyside

| Sunday 5th July 2026, 7:15

Sunday 5th July 2026, 7:15

Leaders Leeds Rhinos review rivalries with Bradford on day two of Magic Weekend at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and there won't be many backing the Bulls to halt the Rhinos stampede at the Betfred Super League summit (3pm BST, live on Sky Sports Action).

Leeds hammered champions Hull KR last week and are running hot at the top, with Bradford big underdogs with Betfred for Sunday's showdown. Read on for my Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls predictions.

Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls Betting Tips

Handicap 3-way Leeds Rhinos -26 @ 20/21
Chris Hankinson Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/4

*odds correct at time of publishing

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get £30 in Sports Free Bets & £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls Odds

Team News

Leeds boss Brad Arthur names an unchanged squad after a run of five straight wins and I wouldn't expect to see anything different in the matchday 17 either.

The only real area of interest is whether and when Jack Bird might be able to dislodge Harry Newman at right centre. The rest of the team picks itself.

Bradford suffered an awful injury to Will Gardiner last week, and he is ruled out with a bleed on the brain. Also out is forward Phoenix Steinwede.

The pair are replaced by academy prospects Cameron Bate and Alfie Leake.

Handicap 3-way Leeds Rhinos -26 @ 20/21

I won't lie, I know this is a derby but I really fancy Leeds to put on a show and hammer Bradford.

The Rhinos just seem to be getting better and better under Brad Arthur and in the magnificent setting of Everton's new ground I feel like Leeds can flex their muscles like they did in that walloping win against Hull KR in Las Vegas at the start of the year

We had Leeds to beat the champions last week and they did, and we backed cheat code forward Chris Hankinson for another try at 7/2 and he also obliged.

This week the handicap is big at 26 points but this Leeds team when it hits top gear can go along at a point a minute, so even a half-hour burst of class can take this game away from the Bulls.

Consistency of selection has been a real boost for Arthur and Leeds, and you do wonder what might happen if they start to suffer some injuries like those affecting their rivals. But for the moment this machine looks like a juggernaut and it's on Bradford to try and find a way to stop them on the big stage.

Leeds only won by 12 at Odsal earlier this year but have improved a lot since then and I think we will see a bigger margin in this one. Bradford have strike themselves in the likes of winger Ethan Ryan and some rapid outside backs, but Leeds just look too good and in 27-try top scorer Maika Sivo they have a weapon that no team has yet found a way to dismantle.

Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls - Handicap 3-Way

Leeds Rhinos -26

20/21

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Chris Hankinson Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/4

So Sivo on 27 tries will definitely score this weekend. I wouldn't even rule out a hat-trick. But so hot is the Fijian flyer that he is almost unbackable - a crazy 1/6 to score a try in this one. He is a player who tends to strike at the end of games too when defences are tired, so it might be worth looking at the 4/1 on offer for the last try of the game or first try of the second half.

I always like looking for value elsewhere however, and as we discussed last week the men in form in this Leeds team are half-back Croft and the versatile Chris Hankinson. Hankinson started the season on the wing but has now found himself a starting back-row forward. He justified our backing last week with a 7/2 try return - his fifth in five games.

"Hankinson feels like a great punt this week for those looking for value outside Sivo" was my surprisingly accurate wisdom seven days ago. Such is his form his odds have come into just 6/4 to score a try from the second row at Everton, but I am going to keep the faith.

Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls - Anytime Tryscorer

Chris Hankinson

6/4

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Click the link for all the latest Rugby League Odds