Is anyone that bothered any more?

No Cameron Smith (although he's no big loss IMO), no Mikolaj Oledzki, no Ed Chamberlain (both are a loss). Possiblity of Willie Tonga to come in, but since he's waiting for a visa, previous experience tells us that will come through some time in about December.
On the flip side, Swinton are in total disarray, but again as we know from experience that can galvanise a team (Wigan away when the club was about to die anyone?).

hink we're done for but this is a game we should not lose. It's simply about pride. Don't want to see Thomas anywhere near the side. But i suspect he will play. If he has another shocker can see it turning into another Worrincy situation. His head has completely gone so whats point in doing the same thing expecting a different result? I'd like to see Ricketts get a run out and maybe Pickersgill get another shot. Those are the players we will build our team around. Bradford HG players. The ridiculous recruitment of young London athletes/players has to stop. Presuming Tonga gets his visa and only Chaplehow available on DR i'd go with the below.

1. Pickersgill
2. Macani
3. Tonga
4. Ricketts
5. Campbell
6. Aston
7. Keyes
8. Sironen
9. Moore
10. Kirk
11. Roche
12. Bentley
13. Hallas

14. Butterworth
15. Margrin
16. Davies
17. Chapelhow/Wilkinson

Don't expect us to be anything like that and most probably be the players who have flopped last few games. But i can live in hope.

As above with Oledzki, Smith and Chamberlain not available I'm struggling to see how we will cope. I mean Chamberlain can be replaced with Macani (downgrade I know) but at least Macani is a winger and Tonga hopefully is coming in at centre.

But in all honesty who are we going to play at prop and second row. Yes Roche and Bentley at second row but then who replaces Roche off the bench? Or who replaces Oledzki?

Are these 3 players gone for good now for the 8's? If so then I would consider blooding a few young lads in preparation for next season seen as though we will need them.

I'd go with:

19. Jonny Campbell
5. Iliess Macani
42. Willie Tonga
3. James Mendeika
27. Josh Rickett
41. Cory Aston
7. Joe Keyes
8. Liam Kirk
34. Scott Moore
10. Damian Sironen
11. Colton Roche
20. James Bentley
29. Sam Hallas

33. Riess Butterworth
35. Evan Hodgson
15. Jon Magrin
21. Brandan Wilkinson/0. Matthew Storton/25. Keenan Tomlinson

Are we still playing on in some vain pretence that we are not relegated? I'd forgotten all about rugby.

I think I'd be tempted to combine that with something mentioned in the previous post. Rather than giving some experience to the fringe kids in this game in preperation for the 8s, it might be worth giving that experience to those who may be here next season and start preparing for the League 1 season now.

Haha no mate, I am resigned to relegation! Have been for a while. I meant if Oledzki, Smith and Chamberlain aren't coming back now the 8's have started then I would start blooding the likes of Rickett, Tomlinson, Pickersgill, Storton etc against our opponents in the Shield (Batley, Dewsbury etc) which will be very good preperation for them leading into the off season. Then a season against the likes of Hemel, Coventry etc.

So the prep against the Championship sides will do those kinds of players the world of good. Similar to how we brought Bentley in for a game last season and Kirk played 3 on the bounce in the Shield.

Except we'll be in the extended Championship following the restructure shurely ...?

...it's too late to be worrying about the deckchairs now either way I think...

I have been abroad for the last few weeks. What has happened to Caro? Is he injured or just out of favour?

I was told dropped. How much truth there is in that, I'm not sure.

Jesus wept, we just pinball from one crisis to another...
Unless there are 4 players in before Friday we are toast.

Could well be the case HC, supported by circumstantial evidence: he was in the 19 for Fax, not in the 17, and not mentioned since, including the injured summaries. But not all injured players get mentioned each week, eg Peltier was a few weeks ago but not since. or we could be saving him for the playoffs. It would be like having a new player, so following his debut

he definitely would be on the injured list

.

Well I have no interest left in the season, but I'll be going on Sunday as it could be a good (if low quality) contest. And 80 mins watching rugby league involving my team is still a decent way to spend the afternoon. Just need to forget the wider context briefly.

For Swinton, this will be the last game before their winding up petition is heard, I think. I wonder how that will effect the players and the numbers of Swinton fans making the trip? Does anyone know if they are on course to avoid being wound up? I know they've raised about 10k on a just giving page but I don't know if that's a significant amount or just scratching the surface?!

This one has the makings of a real classic doesn't it?



Needless to say I won't be bothering wasting my money. I don't think the players
are even that interested judging by what I saw from the highlights from last week. It hardly looked like they were fighting for survival. Defence was laughable.

Assuming they came as a pair from Leeds, the advantages we get from Oledzki have been undermined by Smith. I'm actually thinking it's a worthwhile sacrifice for Leeds to take them both back.
Smiths development at Leeds seems to have stalled, so I assume he was sent to us to see if he could toughen up in a tough league. Judging him by his 1:1 defence, that is still a work in progress.

Totally agree regarding Smith. Hes offered nothing and didnt even look like he wanted to be here. 3 trys on Sunday went straight through him. Deffo not a loss and easily replaced with Wilkinson

No Chapelhow either, he's on the bench for Widnes tonight.

I can imagine the players will be really pumped up for this one; really throwing their bodies into tackles, running to form scrums, trying different tactics, pushing themselves beyond 100% for 80+ minutes, determined to show all the fans what a fortress we've made Odsal.

I've got to be there to witness what could be a mighty battle of gladiators - it will be reminiscent of the bloody battles we used to have with Leeds, nip & tuck, the kop surging as we near the line, the crescendo of COME ON YOU BULLS as we spur the players on.

That winning drop goal just before the hooter goes; the crowd goes wild; despite the torrential rain we stay to clap the players off; then we stream out of the gates, smiling, laughing, recalling each try. We get home, hug the missus, fish and chips on the table, the kids are running around still wearing their replica tops; they'll sleep in them cos they love this team. The world is such a great place to be in, I dont care if its Monday morning tomorrow cos my team, the Bulls won a classic.

I stand on my front porch smiling - then I notice the name on the house I'm living in "Cloud Cuckoo Land"

Haha I liked that.

Don't forget anytime soon Booby Ewing will come out of the shower as well

I remember the days we ruled the world and didn't care a damn for tomorrow! We were the best, people cowered at our name and where-ever we went it was like an invasion!

VOTE LEAVE!!! TAKE BACK CONTROL!!!! BRAXIT is the only way, we can go it alone....we'll be great again!

Peltier back. No sign of Tonga, but only 18 names again.

From the squad, one would guess at:
Pickersgill
Macani
Rickett
Bentley
Campbell
Aston
Keyes
Kirk
Moore
Magrin
Roche
Wilkinson
Sironen
SUBS
Peltier
Caro
Hallas
Davies

Halafihi missing out from the 18 named.


And I realise as I type that out that there's no Oscar Thomas.

Who can kick if we score?

Cory Aston & Joe Keyes have both been regular goalkickers.

Very surprised and happy with that squad. Good opportunity for some younger players to step up. Swinton will rough it up early doors (whats to stop them, referees have been so weak in protecting players this year) we know what to expect early doors

Anyone else notice we don't have an out and out centre in that 18 man squad (if Tonga doesn't get his visa)! From that (including Tonga) I'd go with:

19. Johnny Campbell
27. Josh Rickett
42. Willie Tonga
20. James Bentley
18. Omari Caro
41. Cory Aston
7. Joe Keyes (GK)
8. Liam Kirk
34. Scott Moore
15. Jon Magrin
21. Brandan Wilkinson
11. Colton Roche
29. Sam Hallas

10. Damian Sironen
17. Ross Peltier
24. Brandon Pickersgill
36. James Davies