Cunningham out of game , no further news on Lawton & Emmett.

Regarding the game ... Miller says in the Free Press ...

I am not happy with this, even though I know they can be snapped up at any time.
He should be saying we will try and keep our players by matching offers short term until the season is over.
This may not be possible of course, but at least pretend or something.
If Hodson and Wateman are hived off to the first bidder we will have lost our edge and will jeopardise promotion. If as a result of that we lose out on promotion, then as Duncan Bannatyne says ... I'm out!
I won't be back ... and I won't be alone!

That's all a bit premature maybe. But it is a dilemma between wanting our side to perform well against Bradford and possibly losing players and playing crap and keeping them.
COYD

Oh it actually happened! I thought you were just painting a descriptive picture!

i think he said it to try and give the players a pick me up before a big game in which he is saying go out and show what you can do. If clubs are watching there is little that can be done about it, but i think they will want to see more than a few good games before making any move. just motivational i reckon

doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article.php?id=24825

doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/article.php?id=24825

I think all he is saying is that it is a showcase for their talents, which it is.
I'm sure TM wants to keep hold of all of our players as it has taken him a lot of time and hard work, most of which we are unaware of to assemble the team. I don't want to lose anyone, but if we put in a good performance and for example the Bulls or another SL team offered a deal to one of our players then that unfortunately is the nature of professional sport.
If you played in CC1 and got offered the chance to play SL what would you do when compared to what we can offer?

Don't stand behind the posts, come and stand on half way and sod any mardy Bulls fan who says anything. No disrespect but that vast away end will just swallow you up so a better atmosphere would be had if you came in with us lot.

The Rooley end is far too big. That's why i thought i front of the touchdown would be a good spot.

I agree with this fella!

...and we can huddle together for warmth

Match Preview

Doncaster RLFC head into Sunday's Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round tie against Bradford Bulls in confident mood after registering emphatic victories in their last three outings.

The Dons have racked up plenty of points of late and have scored over 160 points in their last three games against Sharlston Rovers (3rd round of the Challenge Cup), South Wales Scorpions and London Skolars (both Co-operative Championship One).

The Dons' free-scoring left side duo of Tom Hodson (1-1-2-3-5) and Lee Waterman (2-1-6-1-3) have both touched down in the club's last five games, notching up an impressive total of 25 tries between them. Hodson scored five tries on Good Friday and Waterman's hat-trick takes their combined total to 31 in nine games so far this season.

Bradford have hit form of late and had a very productive Easter weekend in Super League with a hard fought 12-4 win over arch rivals Leeds Rhinos on Good Friday which was backed up with a convincing 38-4 victory at Widnes Vikings on Easter Monday.

Liam Cunningham and Mike Emmett are the latest casualties for the Dons after picking up injuries in the impressive win over the Skolars. Cunningham will be out for at least six weeks after damaging ankle ligaments and Emmett's prognosis is less certain and sits out with a swollen knee.

They join Carl Hughes and Dean Colton on the injury list and both Dean O'Loughlin and Nathan Powley have one match remaining on their retrospective bans and will be available once again for the Dons trip to Gateshead next Sunday. Centre Chris Spurr will go straight into Tony Miller's squad after re-joining the club this week.

The Bulls also have an extensive injury list which includes the likes of Jarrod Sammut, Elliot Kear, Nick Scruton, and former Dons' star half back Luke Gale. Bulls' head coach Mick Potter was without 11 members of his first-team squad on Monday because of injury and suspension.

Their matters have been made worse as hooker and joint skipper Heath L'Estrange has been banned for two games after being charged a grade C offence following an incident in Friday's West Yorkshire derby against Leeds.

The Super League giants have won all three of their previous Challenge Cup meetings with the Dons and are the only two sides in the fourth round draw to have last met in the winter era, having not faced each other since the 1994-1995 season.

Dons' head coach Miller said: "It's a dream cup tie for us and we're all looking forward to the challenge.

"Bradford are a very strong side and had an excellent Easter weekend and seem to have put their off the field troubles behind them.

"We'll go to Odsal and give it our best shot and we're more than capable of causing an upset if we play to our full potential.

"It's a big day for the club and it will be a great experience for the players and our fans."

Tickets for Sunday's clash cost from £15 for adults, £10 for concession and £5 for juniors and can be purchased by calling the Bulls ticket office on 08448 711 490. The big kick-off is at 3:00pm.

Previous Challenge Cup meetings:

1966 (Round 1) Bradford 23 Doncaster 2

1952 (Round 1, First Leg) Bradford 6 Doncaster 5

1952 (Round 1, Second Leg) Doncaster 4 Bradford 7

Last meeting:

Bradford 74 Doncaster 18 (Stones Bitter Championship, 02/04/1995)

Manuokafoa was injured at the beginning of the season but has played the last 4 weeks or so. Excellent prop. Our 3 imports this year are looking the business (first time in a few years..)

do you reckon that you will field your best team possible or will you throw afew youngsters in ?

I think its a game the bulls dare not lose because of the financial implications. The Dons have nothing to lose so all the pressure is on bradford.

Good news for the Dons is that Bulls winger Karl Pryce hopes to be fit for the game!

Just picked up on a comment Jemmo made on the Bulls forum, perhaps these weekends chant should be 'Come on you Cones!'

I don't think Mick Potter will be taking anything for granted and we will play our strongest [size=200available [/size team. Hope it stays dry, the weather will have a big say on the size of crowd

Surely Bradford playing at home equates to heavy rain in the West Yorkshire area?

Match preview [url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/5838/DONCASTER%20BULLS%20EYEclick[/url Bulls Official Website

Karl Pryce not in squad then.

Bradford will be one of the televised games in the next round

Bradford or the Dons you mean surely

No Cooke, no Fawcett allegedly, so Bradford then.

I bought my ticket in good faith expecting a strong Dons team.

Anyone needing a lift tomorrow, drop me a message on here..

Todays the day ladies and gents, get there early, get their with vocal chords warmed up, give it your best and hope the players can respond.

Come On You Dons!