Noble's Bradford show why they are the team to beat

Bradford Bulls played like champions to get their new Super League campaign off to the best possible start with an emphatic 18-4 victory over Wigan on Friday night.

By starting the new season in much the same way they ended the last one, the Bulls quickly removed the Challenge Cup defeat by Leeds from their system and showed once more that they have the measure of at least one of their leading rivals.

It may not have been as comprehensive as their 37-6 Grand Final humiliation of the Warriors at Old Trafford five months ago, but it was convincing nevertheless.

"I think we showed the rest of the competition that maybe the Leeds result was a one-off," said their delighted coach, Brian Noble.

"I thought we were fantastic tonight," he added. "We played some terrific football, even though a couple of decisions went against us. We came here to play football and the people who say we are a biff-and-bash team need to take a look at the video. The team showed why they are champions."

Bradford's victory was achieved at a cost, with free-scoring full-back Michael Withers having to leave the field with a groin strain and popular new winger Lesley Vainikolo pulling a hamstring – injuries likely to leave the duo sidelined for some weeks. With Leon Pryce already banned for three more games, the champions will be forced to take an early dip into their reserve strength for next week's visit of Warrington.

But nothing could diminish the joy with which Bradford celebrated a first victory at the JJB Stadium and only their second win away at Wigan in 10 years.

They were forced to withstand an early onslaught from the home side and, although Bradford were able to demonstrate their awesome defence, they were also grateful for the profligacy of Stuart Raper's men.

Hooker Terry Newton was the chief culprit, dropping Jamie Ainscough's pass with the defensive line breached and then failing to ground the ball, according to the video referee, when he did reach the try line, while even the normally precise Andrew Farrell missed a simple penalty.

Newton did eventually score a try but by then Bradford were 12-0 ahead thanks to tries from former Wigan duo Lee Gilmour and Mike Forshaw.

When the lively winger Tevita Vaikona tore away for a third try and Paul Deacon kicked his first conversion to add to two earlier penalties there was no way back for the home side. "We had opportunities early and didn't put them away and you can't afford to blow chances against Bradford," said the disappointed Wigan coach, who heard his team booed from the pitch at the end.

"The video-referee decision was close. If it had gone our way, I might be sitting here with a smile on my face. But we probably didn't deserve to win because we didn't play well enough."

Wigan's misery was compounded when substitute forward Simon Haughton, making his first appearance at the JJB Stadium for almost 12 months, was placed on report for using his forearm.

He appeared to catch Brandon Costin in the head as the Bradford man attempted to make a tackle and, if the League executive decide he has a case to answer, Haughton could find that his long-awaited return to first-team action is an all-too brief one. Noble was clearly incensed by the challenge. "We don't whinge at Bradford, but I hope the officials look at the incident," he said.