Minchella will be back in. Think he'll rest Webster. Probably Gibson back in. If we're going to have any chance we need Lilley to be fit.

To be honest, much as feel we must be second favourites in this game, IF we turn up with the same physicality and spirit we've shown recently then anything, including us taking the spoils, is possible. There I've said it. Hostage to fortune now, I guess...

I have heard from a very good source Chisholm is been offered around to other clubs. From a club that has been offered him.

I have heard the same from a few sources, I imagine it's very similar to Lee Smith who was classed as injured last year when wasn't the case.

I wonder why.

It's not as if we have a glut of halfbacks already lining up to take his place. And he has just had a kid, so you wouldn't imagine him wanting to bite the hand? If these rumours are true, something must've happened.

I would presume he is our highest paid player and [uis[/u OOC at the end of the season too, but I hope we have a replacement lined up if he is off. Look what happened last time.....

There was chatter him at Batley that him and Kear weren't seeing eye to eye. But if you believed everything you heard on the terraces

If I hear JK and a player don't see eye to eye, I have to say I instinctively assume it's the player that's at fault.

Yeah. I can see that.

I've worked with bosses who I have clashed with in the past. I find the best way to get through it is to keep your head down and do as best as you can at your job, and give the boss no opportunity for making the situation worse. Not so easy on a rugby pitch though. Or with an enormous ego either I suppose.

It would be a shame to lose him but he hasn't been the same since the knee injury hopefully keys will be back soon I think he and Lilly will play well together

There does seem to have been a, 'talking up', of Mattie Wildie as a half from JK. Fair enough, his linking up with Jordan Lilley worked well last week and as a short term 'work around' it's fine but I'm not sure how long term it can be. I know we have Joe Keyes to come back(?) and also Rowan Milnes but, Keyesy's injury is a bit indeterminate and we need to pick and choose Rown's games and this leaves us a little too dependent on Jordan a Mattie which is not ideal, IMO.

If Keyes can't get to the bottom of this back problem he's going to have a difficult decision to make. I know it's a big operation but maybe he needs to have it removed.

Bookies giving us a 20 point start today, yikes.

That feels fair to me. I'd take Widnes on that personally.

Widnes in under the posts after 5 mins. Very soft defensively for that score.

Widnes break from their own half and kick through to the winger who is offside. He collects the ball and scores.

Widnes 12 Bradford 0

Foggin-Johnson goes in for the Bulls! Mini converts.

Widnes 12 Bradford 6

Connor Farrell goes in under the posts and the Bulls are back in the game!

Widnes 12 Bradford 12

Widnes back in front. The Bulls withstand repeat sets and stand tall. Defence much improved from the first 15 mins. 3 mins until half time.

Widnes 18 Bradford 12

Flanagan wins Bradford a penalty on halfway. Minchella opts to take the points with 2 mins to go. Bradford throw the ball around after the hooter looking for a miracle score.

Half time score: Widnes 18 Bradford 14

Decent first half.

We’ve looked fairly fluid to say all of our 3 halves are out.

Felt we let them off the hook a little bit, the momentum was with us at 12-12 but a couple of errors and giving a penalty away led to their 3rd try.

A very sloppy start but we have responded very well. This game is definitely there to be won. Big 40 mins coming up!

Agreed.

Shows the fight in the side to go 12-0 down against a good team away and not to let their heads drop.

We still need to work on our panic play. I don't know how many times it needs saying but we don't have to score every time we have the ball. Sometimes it's enough just to play a decent set.

Fair point.

I think having our halves fit would help with that but can’t fault Willie and Minchella so far.