Haggerty was in position to take over as head coach at Salford but, following their financial turmoil, made the tough decision to leave the club and head to Bradford Bulls, who were in the Championship with aspirations of being a Super League club.
It was announced on Thursday that not only were Bradford back but they had jumped from 16th to 10th in the gradings system, putting them automatically into Super League with them dreaming of their halcyon days once again.
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It was at the expense of Salford that Bradford returned, with Haggerty’s old club dropping to 15th in the gradings and further deductions to come with their 2025 finances yet to be taken into account.
It brings to an end a 17-year stay in the top flight for the Red Devils as the Bulls make their return for the first time since 2014, Salford’s disastrous takeover and pending HMRC case still hanging over the club.
For Haggerty, while he did not get the opportunity to fulfil his head coaching dreams at Salford, he is ready to embrace the “new lease of life” he has found in Yorkshire as he tries to bring one of Super League’s most iconic original teams back to their former glory.
“I was hoping so, there was obviously a lot of talk and a lot of narrative about the Bulls being back in Super League but it wasn’t confirmed. But it had a big pull for me knowing that I could potentially be the head coach of Bradford Bulls in Super League,” Haggerty said.
“A trying time is an understatement, it was a tough 12 months. I was due to take over at Salford and we had a ready-made squad to take the next steps but unfortunately that was taken away from us.
“But having the opportunity to come to the Bulls and being in Super League with such a big club, it has given me a new lease of life and my first official crack at being a head coach so I’m very excited.
“I’ll probably learn a lot on the journey, I’ll make a load of mistakes but there’s some good people here who’ll help me and guide me along the way.”
So, what can we expect from Haggerty as he tries to bring back ‘Bull Mania’? He is hoping a brand of rugby befitting of their new-found Super League status.
“I’m hoping to put a brand of rugby on the field where Bradford fans want to come and watch,” he added.
“We are hopefully people’s second favourite team to watch and we’ve got an exciting style, but we’re fit and tough and resilient with it.”
While many Bulls fans might be dreaming of winning trophies again in the future, Haggerty is more focused on ensuring that right now, Bradford become a team people respect.
“In five years time well I think I’ll be a little bit greyer, some of the players are a bit older, but I just want to put a product on the field that people enjoy watching,” Haggerty said.
“In year one I just want to show respect, I want people to respect the Bulls and what we’re trying to do here.”
