Back on topic..

Re: Herbert, this tweet from Connor gives me a little bit more encouragement about his condition, because I was starting to get frustrated:

First time they've hinted at it being a tear as opposed to just a strain. Althout that is just connors opinion rather anything official. would make more sense of length of time he's been missing.

There's also this, insinuating it hopefully isn't too bad in response to someone asking how long he's gonna be out:



It's right that the club are taking all the necessary precautions two games into the season.

That's fine. You do, I dont.
No problemo.

HBs tend to show at a younger age, they tend to be most skilful & quick of the smaller players. The only class HB who seemed to escape at a young age was Sean Long from what I remember.

Having seen the Crusaders last week, I'd tip you lot comfortably here. Sammut apart, they were mediocre. They have plenty of size and Sammut is quality but they lacked guile last week, and should have broken us down more than they did. A more mobile, skilfull team than us would also have scored more tries.

I dont care how well the crusaders are starting off the year and if bulls have no half backs. The time for excuses are over!!! we must start concentrating on games instead of blaming refs and quota spots for other teams etc! Our pack on paper should destroy crusaders pack! but we are on about bulls i guess rnt we! on paper even without half backs we shud quite easily get the 2 points. So then my team would be:

Royston
Ainscough
Walker
Platt
Raynor
Ah Van
Kearney
Hargreaves
Diskin
Lynch
Whitehead
Elima
Addy

Bench: Lestrange, Scruton, Donaldson, Kopzack

Think donno might get the shout this weekend if fit... Ah van im not sure about at 6 BUT he cant be any worse than sykes can he? Regardless this team should win this game comfatably. But bulls are bulls and make life hard for there selves. Anyway thats my team. Thoughts???

So that's one half back between two teams. Gonna be a cracker!

Can't disagree with that.

Ainscough must be chomping at the bit to come into the side. So moving Ah Van to 6 and Ainscough taking his place on the wing makes sense to me.

I'd also start with Diskin, rather than L'Estrange. We look stronger with Diskin on the field, and L'Estrange's running style would better suit a hooker coming off the bench and taking on tired defences.

Judging from his Twitter feed, he is.

Not in the squad

Once Donaldson is fit enough to play, I'd expect him to get a game or two in the U20s before he comes back into the first team anyway (unless we're desperate). Better to let him get some match fitness back at that level before throwing him back into Super League, bearing in mind he's still a young bloke.

id go with ah van at stand off ainscough on wing and id bring addy in at loose forward and drop sibbitt and sykes

Think thats probably team I'd pick too.

royston
raynor
walker
platt
ainscough
ah van
kearney
lynch
diskin
scruton
whitehead
elima
addy

l'estrange
hargreaves
kopczak
olbison/sykes

just a bit undecided on last bench spot tbh.

The squad in full is: Addy, Ainscough, Ah Van, Diskin, Elima, Hargreaves, Kearney, Kopczak, L'Estrange, Lynch, Olbison, Platt, Raynor, Royston, Scruton, Sibbit, Sykes, Walker, Whitehead.

Adult tickets sold out for Crusaders game: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/512 ... SOLD%20OUT

Adult tickets sold out for Crusaders game: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/512 ... SOLD%20OUT

Quote ="dddooommm"Adult tickets sold out for Crusaders game: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/512 ... SOLD%20OUT'" Well that's good on two counts. One, we're taking a big following down to Wrexham and two we get more cash if we're the ones who sold.

Quote ="dddooommm"Adult tickets sold out for Crusaders game: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/512 ... SOLD%20OUT'" Well that's good on two counts. One, we're taking a big following down to Wrexham and two we get more cash if we're the ones who sold.

That's just about what I'd go with, although I'd also be tempted to go with L'Estrange at 7.

I'd prefer to see Heath in the halves with Kearney and have Diskin try and do a full 80 minute stint if possible. Maybe have Diskin and Heath swap around mid-game? I felt we showed more attacking flair from the ruck when Diskin was playing last week. Albeit we had very few attacking opportunities against Wigan.

I'd also like to see a big performance from our pack this week. We showed some real power and strength against Leeds which got us in to some decent scoring positions. I felt we lacked a bit of that determination against Wigan last week and we must back that up each week if we are to push on and challenge for the top 8.

Also, discipline this week must be top drawer. We cannot have another week of us piggy backing the opposition up the field and into our own 20.

L'estrange and Kearney were our half backs for many matches last year and were unsuccessful. I would prefer not to see that partnership again

I'm expecting same side as last weekend, though i don't remember full 17. Shame herbert ain't ready yet.

Be a tough game, against a team we've struggled to beat since coming into super league.

A lot of shouts for Ah Van to stand off. I've not seen anything to suggest that he's a ball player so I don't quite understand the call. Grasping at straws I think. Kearney is clearly out of his depth at scrum half. No organisational play whatsoever.

The only possible person in that squad who even slightly resembles a scrum half is Heath. It has to be Heath at 7 with Kearney at 6. I can't see another alternative without Southernwood being in the squad.

Royston Ainscough Walker Platt Ah Van Kearney L'Estrange Hargreaves Diskin Lynch Elima Whitehead Addy.

Would more than likely be my choice!

Although I wouldn't rule out Sykes at fullback either, I don't think Royston has quite found his feet yet in SL.

That was pretty much my thinking too. Think ah van Kearney offers something a little different although I wouldn't mind sticking addy alongside Kearney for same reason.