I think the forwards worked hard all night as did James Clare.

Backs were terrible, including Welham who seems to have either brilliant games or a total meltdown. Someone also needs to tell Smith (if he's not already seen it) that Blythe is sodding useless. Give Ethan Ryan or Ross Oakes another game. Neither have let us down and deserve a chance ahead of him.

As for the stadium, I'm going to stick up for the university here as I've seen this place being built and it's a first class playing facility... For university teams!!!

The pitch is in very good nick to say it's had a full season of Rugby Union over the winter. The pavilion changing and bar facilities are possibly better than our own at Odsal. The obvious let down is the spectator areas and this was always going to be a struggle.

I just wonder if stands along the far side touch line would have been better, but this would have increased costs.

The main question is how the hell have the RFL agreed to this when a ground share at Doncaster or even Rotherham could have been an option?

It's easy to see why the Eagles will be happy though. They have spent minimum amount on the temporary stands, and with their gates being so low this is the only way they can afford to be full time. I do however worry about them next year as the costs of running their own stadium at the legacy park will be quadruple what they have spent this season.

Glad it will be the only time I watch Bradford here though.

Though Clare was a clear MOM for us, as a guy who was standing nearby asked, 'how many James Clare's have we got on the field - he seems to be everywhere'. Definitely a game of two halves and we looked hopeless early on, but when we finally got on top there was no way back for Sheffield and I though we were deserved winners.

Spectator facilities were poor though, there is no escaping that. Incidentally, speaking to Sheffield fans, they seem to feel the new ground isn't going to happen, which will be a bummer for the club, tbh.

Standing right at the side of the dug-outs was fascinating though and the banter between Chev and Keith Senior was brilliant - at one point, Chev [jokingly accused Senior of spending more time on the pitch than Gary Mercer....sadly Senior's reply was lost in the noise! One other funny - Chev's not got the loudest voice so, in the second half, whenever he had to shout team instructions he shouted to Omari Caro who passed them on....it's a wonder you couldn't hear Omari in Bradford, he doesn't need a megaphone, that lad, and that's a fact!

Wel done forwards, backsmust try harder. RFL: how did this ground get past you? Sheffield are one of the leading Championship team this year and one reason for that is because they are spending fsck-all on a ground. Everyone else seems to have to pay for a ground worthy of the name (from a spectator's perspective) but they somehow haven't.

Put it this way - if we were a parks team playing out of Horsfall, it would be a spectator palace in comparison. And Sheffield are a team one step away from SL. Which might be hosting SL visitors in the playoffs. How great would that look on international TV?

I like Sheffield and the people there have done a fine job keeping it going but really, there is a line and their ground is so far the wrong side of it, the RFL should really absolutely not allow it. And if in the playoffs, they certainly shouldn't be allowed to play there.

Worringly for 55 minutes Sheffield were the better side until we woke up and started to engage.

Whilst it's good for Rohan Smith to join B Smith, M Elliot, B Noble and F Cummins on winning his first outing as Bradford head coach, last night was uncomfortable viewing for the majority of the game.

You knew after 25 minutes with the score reading 4-0 that this was going to be one of those games where defence was going to be the best form attack.

For Danny Williams this certainly was the case - his outstanding try-saving tackle on Garry Lo must be up there with one of the best defensive efforts from a Northern/Bulls player in recent memory.

You can certainly the impact Rohan was made on the defensive structure with more communication and cohesion between the players. Yes, we conceded three tries, but we certainly made Sheffield work to their limits to post these scores.

As has already been mentioned James Clare was solid at the back and was heavily involved all night.

Unfortunately the attack was lacklustre at best for 75% of the game with the same foolish and unforgivable errors being made - winning the penalty and then knocking on/running in to touch on the first tackle.

Losing Lee Gaskell at halftime was a huge blow, so it was over to Thomas and Addy in the halves, who did a comendable job of orchestrating and moving play.

Thomas really came into his own in the final twenty, taking the game by the scruff of the neck with his effective game management - the drop goal, the three kicks to touch deep inside the Sheffield 10m.

You really got the feeling that he was standing up to be considered as the playmaking 7 we so desperately need.

On reflection Rohan Smith can certainly take a lot of heart from the collective spirit and character shown by his side in finishing the game so strongly last night.

Like I said on the commentary though, the performance will have to raise ten fold for next Saturday's showdown with Leigh in Blackpool.

On the plus side, I expect Rohan will have learnt a bit more about the squad last night than he did watching us run 50 odd past an average Swinton. Beating Leigh looks a very tough ask on current form and with the added blow of Gaskell being injured but with the right mindset, anything is possible.

It was strange, but I thought the Thomas/Gaskell partnership was poor. Maybe just needs more time together. But the Thomas/Addy partnership worked a lot better.

Defensively - too much time standing & watching out wide. Line speed was slow - again out wide. Also didn't play to the whistle. Kept expecting knock-on calls when Sheffield knocked on.... Rarely happened though.

To be honest, Gaskell hasn't seemed his old self for a while, for me. Not sure, but sometimes I feel he maybe has other things on his mind? I accept he still does some good things but he seems a bit semi-detached at times.

It's my belief he's staying at Odsal.

Make your mind up Ffs

I said last night that it's my belief that Gaskell and Clare will stay.

Sadly that means Addy, Clark and Ferguson will move to Super League.

What you say on here, where management can see it, and what you send on texts are different things though aren't they!

You're an idiot

You on the other hand seem to be fairly well informed, what's your thoughts or is it all still up in the air?

which, whilst clearly not his fault, is a fact likely to be noticed by potential suitors.

With all that in mind, he may not now be quite the same capture as last season. However, I strongly suspect there will be offers.

Still hoping he stays!

If he signed for Batley he'll be near the Fox's Biscuit factory when he needs to go in for repairs.

Now now.....Lol

Joe Lumb had a huge impact during the second half. We really stepped up the tempo of the game when he came on. Fantastic young player.

Definitely thought he got through a lot of work in his 20min spell.

Also thought Adam O'Brien had his best game for a while. But two huge hits in the first half and was zipping around dummy half all day.
Thought at back end of last year and a bit from beginning of this year he wasn't quite the player we saw at the beginning of 2015. Mainly down to Lowes absolutely flogging him to death. But with Lumb coming in, we seem to be getting the best out of O'brien. That 20 min rest can make a huge difference.

Well played guys, terrible ground yes, we are moving into the new one next season, but remains to be seen whether it will be much better than this season, maybe we should have got the RFL to buy the Don Valley....

OB was excellent on friday. Has anyone heard how Steve Thorpe is? He was on the receiving end of a massive hit from Adam in the first half. We were stood by the Sheff dugout and it wasnt pretty, poor bloke looked in a bad way.

Broken right cheekbone.Out for 2 and a half months.

I was speaking to some Sheffield fans at the game and they were, well, more than suggesting, they were saying quite categorically that the new ground had hit the buffers and wouldn't happen. Must admit, I thought it was all settled, finance, planning etc - the lot, but I was told this wasn't the case.

If it does fall through it will be a big problem for the Eagles as, whilst the University ground is fine for the Uni, it is far from fine for pro sport where speccies need to be accommodated and a half-decent view of proceedings is needed. After going full-time I don't think they can afford to play there after this year.

Its happening, pitch and floodlights going in as we speak, the trouble is we had an investor who wanted to build the stand with a hotel, sadly he pulled out for various reasons. There is interest from a few parties (mainly due to the planning for a hotel) so I think the setup will be a slight improvement on this season, hopefully going forward the money can be raised to put the 2500 seater stand in place. We have our fair share of doom and gloom merchants here, who will always be far from convinced about anything!

Hope its all happens for you.. Always want you to do well (except against us obviously) - stood with some of your fans - great bunch and no venom - a refreshing change!

A very interesting visit!! Never been to a ground where I could stand within touching (and hearing) distance of the players and staff - amazing experience



Heard Oscar Thomas get a couple of rollickings for not sticking to the plan, Adam Sidlow is a great club man - never stops encouraging from the bench.

And the sight of your new captain in such distress - close up and personal - brings it home to you!

Wish him well..

If the plan included actually making tackles, then he deserved said rollocking.