What surprises me is the lack of TV coverage. Sky coverage is included in the schedule printed in the RL Express and excluding Manchester we're only on twice-- both at home so will affect the gate. London are the only team with only 2 . The others are (all excluding Etihad)
3-- Reds
4-- Cats, Giants, KR,
5-- Cas Hull Vikings
6-- Wakefield Wire Wigan
8-- Saints
9-- Rhinos
Have we asked for this limitation or is it purely down to Sky's choice?

Sky games:
Castleford at home
Leeds away
Leeds at home
Hudds at MW

Slight miss print in League Express as they have missed off our away sky fixture at Leeds.

We are on far less than last season.

I guess with the last few fixtures the Sky games are still undecided.

FIRST 7 GAMES
Wakefield - should be close but I fancy us to edge it
Hull FC - realistically can't see us winning at Hull
Castleford - should beat them
St Helens - we are home although they are obviously the better team
Huddersfield - could go either way
Widnes - should beat them
Hull KR - think we're better them considering they've lost Green, Taylor, Galea and McDonnell

Not too bad.

If we're not allowed the Sky money, perhaps we've asked for limited number of sky games?

Home games on Sky i'm not too bothered about as i've got my season ticket so will be going anyway. Its the Friday away games in Lancashire I like as quite often I finish too late at work to be able to make the trip over the pennines.

Maybe it's because we were on so much last year that we are on less this year?. TBH it probably helps us in getting people who haven't got a season ticket this year to turn up and pay on gate if they don't have option of watching on sky.

Does anybody know the dates for the 2013 SL playoffs, apart from the Final? Can't find them anywhere.

It's dependent on the legal case Wigan have brought after their catastrophic capitulation at the end of last season. If they are not given automatic passage into the final they are all going to hold their breath until they go blue & not talk to anyone for a month.

I know of late watching them could sometimes be a chore, but that's going a bit far

Also, does anyone have the current list of confirmed pre-season games? I know we play Leeds on 20 Jan for Danny McGuire's testimonial but there is nothing I can find on the Bulls website about pre-season fixtures

Dewsbury on the 13th Jan away. That and the Leeds game are the only ones currently that have been announced. Cummins said that these would be the only two however Paul March (coach of Keighley) has said that he is trying to get a friendly with the Bulls.

[urlhttp://www.examiner.co.uk/huddersfield-giants/huddersfield-giants-news/2012/11/20/huddersfield-giants-star-craig-kopczak-can-t-wait-to-face-bradford-bulls-86081-32265540/[/url

Kopouts thoughts

I'm glad we're playing Huddersfield quite early in the season, as the Kopout saga has added to the 'rivalry' we have with them.

Should a head coach still be referred to as Baloo? That's my thoughts.

You said you liked Friday night away fixtures because you can't attend them?

No, I like when they are on Sky as I can watch them.

I'd much prefer them on a Sunday afternoon so I can see them live... Friday on Sky is next best thing

Hope we do get mason and hope he smashes kopout and gets at him for the whole game.

Take him to one side and tell him it's 'Sir' at work, then disciplinary code if he doesn't comply..



We had a shift manager who was known as 'Virgil' (from Thunderbirds, who he slightly resembled when he was younger) all the way through his, still ongoing, high flying career. Never caused a problem, so I guess Baloo will [ibear[/i it....

I'm unsure myself, but thinking briefly of undisputed great coaches, how many of them are known by a stupid nickname?

Nobby

Bluey

Both out of work. My point exactly.

Though it must also be said that many, perhaps ones still in work, started as coaches with silly nicknames, - before they became "undisputed great coaches" of course..

McNamara>McBanana....

Not sure he actually [istarted[/i with that......