Run with the bulls

They never disappoint. Hands down the best derby in Super League.

I think you talk out of your rear end, having watched him stand head and shoulders above anyone he has played against through the juniors, whilst also playing a year out of his age group! how often have you actually seen him play? or are you going off what you have seen of a young kid playing super league level on tv?

They quite regularly disappoint! Last seasons game at Odsal was quite possibly the worst game of Rugby League I have ever seen.

The referee will be Phil Bentham.

If so, must explain why gate numbers are down.

Oh goodie - we get to watch "The Phil Bentham Show" again. Now I don't care who wins, as long as we get to see Phil 'Me-Me' Bentham blow up every two minutes then I'm happy.

Isn't he currently standing at giving less penalties than any other ref?

I don't dissagree with you on Bentham, in that I just don't like him, but pretty sure I read he has given less penalties throughout all the refs this season so far.

Think your wrong there fella.

For some years now I've felt the derby hasn't lived up to expectations. I don't know why but I can't seem to get excited to for it either?

I think it's mainly due to the fact we've been atrocious last few seasons and Leeds have also been pretty poor. However I think Leeds seem to be going well this year and I think we're as good as we've been for a good few years. We're playing some great rugby at the moment.

I honestly think Thursday could be a cracker!

I'd say it was probably been because for the last 6+ years Leeds have been overwhelming favourites for the game, resulting in :

a) Game goes to form, and leeds win by a comfortable margin
b) Leeds playing badly, but still winning
c) Leeds playing badly, and losing

All of which leave a negative view of some sort on the game. I'd be interested to know what the Bulls fans think of it. With it being a case of expectations versus outcome, they could be more positive about it.

Off the field relations between the two clubs have never been better, the demise of Hood and Caisley and Cummins taking over has made it all hunky dory now. Cummins has met Hetherington more than once to pick his brain on how to run things successfully. Players like Batemen and Addy have met with Sinfield and JJB for advice too.

On the field there doesn't seem to be any bad blood either, the days of Fielden vs McDermott are long gone. Since about 2007 the quality of the Bulls went down the pan and has only got on the up again in 2012. It'll be a while before we're genuine contenders again.

The game has lost a bit of its lustre as a result.

I'm looking forward to this one the Visitors are scoring for fun but are still pretty open defensively whereas we've been the complete opposite and bombing trys all over the park whilst our defence overall has been very good.
Also no problems with Bentham he's way down the list imo of p!$$ poor officials and NO-ONE loves a tv game more than ST Steve Ganson.

Could make an argument for Liam Farrell .

Got to agree with you on this one mate!
But is that what we want to see in a West Yorkshire Derby? Kisses & Cuddles etc?

I think there are enough imbred numpties following both clubs to provide a bit of hostility in the atmosphere. It does seem a bit odd to be on such good terms with Leeds though.



Farrell is better than Bateman at the moment but Farrell is 3 years older than him.

I'd rather have that than the childish bile that gets thrown back and forth between the East Yorkshire clubs to be honest.

Bulls 19 man squad:

James Donaldson, Adam Sidlow, Jamie Langley, Manase Manuokafoa, John Bateman, Brett Kearney, Nick Scruton, Heath L’Estrange , Adrian Purtell, Keith Lulia, Elliot Whitehead, Elliot Kear, Jarrod Sammut, Danny Addy, Tom Olbison, Chev Walker, Matty Blythe, Jamie Foster, Matt Diskin.

Langley, Blythe and Lulia back for us. Could argue that's the strongest squad we've selected all season.

Squad news for Leeds fans is no news as usual: unchanged.

There are several things missing from the old rivalry (well not that old, but early Super League). To make up for those missing ingredients the games need to be top notch quality and they're not quite there yet.

What made the previous games special was the Bulls early Super League success. That the Bulls stole such a march on the Rhinos in the early years of SL got under the skin on the Rhionos fans, players and administrators. I also got the impression that dominating the Rhinos was almost as special for the Bulls as their success. However these games were special as we were playing catch up and victories became oh so sweet. The Darryl Powell masterclass at Headingley, the Iestyn hat trick, the Ben Walker inspired cup win at Valley Parade. When we were reaching our peak, after a short period in 2004 and 2005, the Bulls were beginning their decline.

The McDermott versus Fielden sub plot was also a joy to watch and really added spice to the fixtures. Gosh the game has become sanitised even in the last 10 years. You knew, every fixture Barrie was going to try and impose himself upon the young up and coming star and Fielden, whilst often losing the confliguration but winning the match, was not going to back down.

Finally, we all loved the off field drama. Caisley versus Hetherington. Inducement to Breach Harris' contract. It all added to the mix.

Just too many ingredients missing these days. Maybe I will be rude to Bullseye to add some spice.

You could view our three year rivalry with Saints (2007 to 2009) in the same way if not better as both teams were on a par. That has lost some it's allure without Senior slapping Gilmour and Wilkin and Graham running around throwing his teddies out of the pram.

Pretty good summary. And don't forget TMFMISL's hit on Maurie F.

WRT to sanitisation of the game over the last decade, try the tube for Wigan v Warrington - Fights 2001! (ok, it's a bit longer than a decade but not much)

Spot on.

Let's not forget Millenium Magic and Steve Ganson playing the pantomine villan

This fixture had been a virtual SKY banker over the last decade and the odd one they missed they probably regretted - such as the 26-24 in '06 at Headingley, after Leeds' last minute equalising touchdown from Donald and the Burrow winning conversion off the touchline.

Of late it's just about been reduced to Magic weekend filler. Hopefully this Thursday will see a return to form and persuade SKY to keep it in the schedules going forward.

Cas v Leeds is the big one now. Probably on par with Boca Juniors v River Plate.