Just wrote a long and very insightful review of the game

and then lost it somehow... so now I'm even more depressed... basics being that we lost it in forwards - surprise! Gaskell's tackling technique not good - he gave away their first try, think he'll be targetted, Odsal was depressing, especially because of the memories of previous seasons, oh and I blame employing Mcnamara for so long (bit more nuanced and complicated than that and includes Leeds and some egotistical dimwits, but that's the jist). They you have it, that's the condensed version... I'm retiring for the season, sort of...

Pleasantly surprised by Diskin today, he looked a lot fitter than he has in recent seasons. Purtell did a lot of good things but far from MOM for me. I don't mean this in a disparaging way because it really was a good performance form him but he stood out because of the low expectations we have of him now. That sounds harsher than I mean but I can't think of another way to put it.

Not much else to add, it's all been said. No lack of effort but we're too light.

Seems quite clear that the unequivocal support of the great and good sponsors on RAB has done wonders for Diskin...!

Know what you mean about Purtell. I said to several today (who will doubtless quote me on it should it prove to be a load of waknerage) that he could just be the dark horse of whom few expected much, who may just surprise us. I realy hope he does too, after all he has been through.

I'm sorry Adey, I have been a fan of Purtell all along but when he got that ball today off a loose Cas pass in the first half he should of gone all the way and scored.I don't think he offers a great deal, Luke George would of scored then

He must have reasoned he did not have the pace? And he did throw a few wally passes too, for sure, I'll acknowledge that. Must admit, I wondered what George would have done with that. He could have helped a fair bit today? We did seem a bit bereft of activities out wide today - that was where Cas looked vulnerable, I thought? But I still reckon Purtell may prove a lot more useful than many folk have assumed, and for the reason vbfg said: most folk had written him off, but I think he showed today he still has a fair bit to bring?

Hang on Rog mate, something is very wrong here?

We are debating RL things, not financial waknerage and other off-field crap?

This really will not do! These forums are for accountants and lawyers, not rugby league fans! Debating how guys performed on the park is totally irrelevant to the real matters at hand! How can we live with the shame?

Fireworks in broad daylight at 3pm and free hot chocolate. :-/.

Good luck for the season ahead, feel a little sorry for the (loyal) fans that back your team.

Yep, when the clubs skint what's the best thing to do? I know, go out and spend money we don't have on pointless fireworks which have zero effect!

Ever paused to wonder whether they're actually costing the club money? Given the amount of plugging about Mr Fireworks supplying these, perhaps not.

28th of February!

The hot chocolate was donated by the clubs main sponsor but fair point on the fireworks.

The queen on te tannoy needs to go too.

After listening to FC on radio Leeds I can't possibly croticise the players until this mess is sorted and these people who are having their livelihoods messed around with get some stability.

Roll on March when it's finally all sorted once and for all (hopefully).

What's happening then?

Where was the hot chocolate? I didn't get any.

The date the ownership of the club will be settled and we can move forward.

I thought Huby's second spell was superb and everything then jumped off the back of him. Best player on the pitch. It's obviously very worrying but it shows what one or two decent props could add.

I didn't think our halves did much wrong. They created three tries despite very little territory. Gale needs to attack the line a bit more but other than the second tackle kick in to touch I thought he was OK.

We hung in there for a long period but Naz was poor off the bench and I cant think wai we signed Bridge.

Some of our players look to have lost weight. Sidlow, Olbison and Addy all looked smaller and it's going to take a few weeks to see if that's the right decision.

Why did we line up with Olbison, Purtell, Foster on the left? If the idea with Gaskell is to add more structure, surely Addy needs to be on the left. I don't get Foster's inclusion ahead of George considering we're so small, although Foster's kick return, try and goals were a decent contribution.


The comments show that nobody is fooling themselves. Mason is a start but the squad looks 5 players short.

Yes I know what you mean Adey it is strange isn't it.Got to admit I'm feeling more down hearted than I did yesterday.My wife's from Cas so she's obviously very happy about the result yesterday,which makes it worse for me.Might be needing another hobby soon for Sunday afternoons

We need to get Blythe and Ferguson they will strengthen
Us

What's with all
The poetry
On the board


These days?

I thin a side playing well would've beaten us both.

WE can analyse the game to death (we are RL fans of course!) but I think it boils down IMO to a pretty simple statement.

....Bradford had a 10 minute spell to take the game by the scruff of the neck in the first half and wasted it.

Cas had that opportunity in the 2nd half and took it.

Another "tough to call" game for both of us coming up this weekend....

Thought two teams were pretty much at same level skill wise. Difference came in their pack dominating us, particularly when nas and bridge were on the field. That coupled with us running out of steam in last quarter edged game cas's way. Didn't help the two times we conceded a try straight after taking lead in second half. Really stupid decision by nas to attempt the pass and not convinced that it wasn't a three on one ball steal when Kearney was judged to have knocked on. We were our own worst enemy with number repeat sets we gave cas close to our line though.

fair shout Mat.

I think a lot of the ball stea/knock on calls in super league these days are 50/50 (though there are some blindingly obvious ones)

On sky the replays show that ref's get the majority right - though I'd think that as professionals they all practice "pressuring the ball" in some way to influence the decisions and force more lost balls.

I know exactly what you mean with that decision though, it'd be easy if the balls is covered to get away with reefing it - like I say, it was a 50/50 that went against you but I'd argue it wasn't a game-breaker

Beaten up front and it won't be the last time.

If we can cut out the stupid mistakes and playmakers use their brains a bit more we may scrape into 12th. IF we don't suffer any injuries.

Doesn't bode well. Losing Carvell and Sammut has significantly weakened us.

I listened to the game. My armchair summary is that Cas are mentally stronger, rather than physically stronger, which is understandable. Without a win it will only get worse for Bradford.

just looked at the round 3/4 fixtures and I'd say you really need a win on thrusday. If you lose 4 points then it'd be a massive struggle.

all the best guys

Their pack consistently made more yards and Huby was immense. We were definitely physically weaker, the Cas forwards looked bigger and had the numbers to rotate when they were tiring when we couldn't. Our quality up front dropped right off with Walker and Bridge propping. I'd say mentally we're fragile too, once we went behind it was inevitable we'd concede more.

Lots of Ifs and buts. What if Manoakafoa hadn't knocked on that led direct to Dixon's try? What if Gale had gone for a drop goal when we were 18-12 up instead of a crap end to the set that let Cas score on the next set.

If we get a points deduction it'll be even worse.