By STEVE MASCORD
JOSH Charnley became the most prolific tryscorer in Super League history with a hat-trick in Leigh’s win at Bradford.
The 34-year-old’‘s 55th minute try at Odsal Stadium was his 272nd, moving him past Leeds’ Ryan Hall. Both are expected to retire at the end of the season.
For 2026, it was an unusually attritional contest.
Leigh were too good for a disorganised-looking Bradford throughout their 38-12 win.
Leopards stand-off Adam Cook enjoyed a stellar opening 40 minutes and he opened the scoring with an 11th-minute penalty goal.
It was Cook’s kick to the right which bounced fortuitously for winger Josh Charnley to score his first try two minutes later, Cook converting.
And when Caleb Aekins was unable to take a bomb nine minutes short of halftime, restarting the tackle count, Cook made the Bulls pay once more.
His bullet-like cutout pass found Charnley, who stepped inside the cover defence to bag his second. Cook converted again for a 14-0 halftime lead.
In the meantime, Bradford prop Eribe Doro was barred from returning to the field after a HIA because he had not been wearing an instrumented mouthguard.
The second half began with Bulls fullback Caleb Aekin doing it himself down the left, scoring a try that gave home fans some reason of optimism.
But within four minutes, as they say in the classics: normal service was resumed with Innes Senior crossing on the left corner after some crisp handing on the short side.
Charnley competed his hat-trick when Cook slipped in behind the Bradford defensive line on the right, Chris Atkin pegged one back by backing up down the middle and a dropped bomb allowed Leigh centre Bailey Hodgson to score.
Next to score for Leigh was replacement Lewis Brogan, from close range.
Referee Jack Smith was unable to finish the game due to injury, Tara Jones controlling the final eight minutes.
LEIGH 38 (Charley 3 Senior Hodgson Brogan tries Cook 6 goals ) bt BRADFORD 12 (Aekin Atkin try Dean 2 goals) at Odsal Stadium. Crowd: 8,010
Teams:
BRADFORD: Caleb Aekins; Guy Armitage, Ed Chamberlain, Waqa Blake, Ethan Ryan; Chris Atkin, Riley Dean; Ryan Sutton, Andy Ackers, Eribe Doro, Dan Russellm, Zac Fulton, Joe Mellor. Res: Ebon Scurr, Will Gardiner, Luke Hooley, Phoenix Steinwede, Eliot Peposhi.
LEIGH: David Armstrong; Innes Senior, Bailey Hodgson, Jack Hughes, Josh Charnley; Adam Cook, Lachlan Lam; Joe Ofahenguae, Edwin Ipape, Rob Mulhern, Frankie Halton, Jacob Alick, Isaac Liu. Res: Louis Brogan, Aaron Pene, Gareth O’Brien, Liam Horne, Matt Davis.
Referee: Jack Smith/Tara Jones
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