I'm expecting pretty much a first team line up with fringe players on the bench. No idea what sort of side Leeds will send, think it's only their second friendly.

https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... CtBBjRjXbI

https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... CtBBjRjXbI

Here goes

5-6 first teamers in the Leeds squad. Would expect a win from us.

Strongest 17 should play the majority of this game in preparation for our first competitive game against Dewsbury in the 1895 Cup next week. I'd go with:

McGowan
Blackmore
Arundel
Gill
Tafua
Gaskell
Lilley
Smith
Souter
Lawrence
Butler
Appo
Davies
---
Flanagan
Hallas
Doro
Myers
Jowitt
Oakes
Okoro
Peposhi
Scurr

1 - Aidan McGowan
2 - Ben Blackmore
3 - Jayden Myers
4 - Kieran Gill
5 - Jorge Tuafua
6 - Lee Gaskell
7 - Jordan Lilley
8 - Micheal Lawrence
9 - Mitch Souter
10 - Eribe Doro
11 - Chester Butler
12 - John Davies
13 - Dan Smith

Well it wasn't a bad performance for the final run out before the proper games started. Leeds only had about five 1st teamers in the line up and so the result was pretty much a foregone conclusion. Souter, Scurr and Doro looked most impressive out of our lot. Gaskell and Lilley controlled things well. Peposhi scored a nice try in his late cameo. Only downsides was Blackmore having a bit of a mare conceding one try by letting a kick bounce and then mucking up another and making a couple of mistakes and Jowitt having to go off with a knee in the back.

Leeds have some promising young players but it was quite similar to the game versus Hull where they struggled to compete physically against grown men. Having said that I thought the fullback and the No10 were useful and there was a spell midway through the second half when they attacked very well and scored a nice try in the corner. One thing I couldn't get my head around was their tactic of taking lots of short kick offs and dropouts. Percentage wise they didn't come off and conceded field position and possession.

The kick offs etc. seems to be a Rohan Smith tactic that the 1st team employed last year. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't but its risky.

I don't think they're even risky. They're a cheap shortcut option that rarely come off. Cannot believe they persist with it.

Agreed. It just invites pressure when it doesn't come off which is most of the time.