I'd suggest Leeds take Bradford lightly at their peril.

Have to start well, because if you give them a sniff and let them think they're in the game, they're not just going to roll over.

They just beat Wigan

Hopefully, Bradford beating the pies today will remove any chance of complacancy from us next week.

Wigan put a good side out as well it can be amazing sometimes in sport how dangerous Teams can be with nowt to play for with their fate already sealed!

Let that be a lesson to us! You think you've just got to get off the bus for the points you get your butt kicked. Although it'll no doubt be a tactical defeat by the Goons. I'm not buying that for a minute with the side they put out.

Obviously if we get turned over it'll be a proper tactical defeat as we've a semi-final coming up.

Fear and pressure prevent people from playing to their best.

Bradford no longer have any of that. They can just go out and express themselves.

Looking forward to the trip to Headingley.
Expecting plenty of "banter"



Don't think it will be a Bulls win, but Jimmy has the players really fired up and we looked well coached. Completely different attitude to some of the retched, diabolical performances we've had to watch this season. The Bulls/Leeds game at odsal earlier this year was on of the worst games I've ever seen. It was so boring. Leeds just walked through us. The Wigan game today had Lowes's imprint stamped all over it. Hard work, working for each other, plenty of aggression. We really got stuck in to Wigan. I'm sure Jimmy will want us to get one over the old enemy before we bow out. Hopefully be a good game, sure we'll get some controversy



In response to the OP, I've loved watching Cas this year, desperately want them to win the CC.
However they are losing Sneyd, and replacing him with Luke Gale. Losing Clark and reportedly replacing him with Scott Moore. Meant to be losing Craig Huby too. Sadly I can't see them having another year like this.

Bradford did defend well when Wigan bothered to put an attack together. At no point today were Wigan even close to being the better side, but I fear normal service will resume when Bradford travel to Leeds.

Looking forward to dishing out a bit of banter to the Bulls fans this Friday. A focused Leeds should win this one at a canter.

I would rest a couple of players this week i.e. Peacock and Kylie. However I have hunch that Peacock will play. Last league for the him against the Bulls!

I can only see Kylie been rested. JP will probably play with a view of giving him much less minutes depending how the game is going.

As fatigued as we look I don't think McDermott has got any choice but to keep the squad together and keep knitting that defence back together. Lets hope we are 30+ up at half time and can cruise the second half.

At least Warrington have the worst possible fixture before a CC Semi, lets hope its scorching in the South of France.

Don't think Leuluai needs resting tbh. He's only played the last 2 having missed the previous 4 so it's not like he's played loads recently.

Much will depend on if Delaney, Bailey, Achurch and Kirke are good to go after their recent niggles, otherwise their isn't too much room for alterations.

If we don't see any of those return then it'll have to be similar to last week. The bench was too back row heavy for me against Salford so I'd add Mulhern to it for probably Ward.

You have a point there. I just think JP and Kylie need to be managed carefully during the tough run in. Maybe they will both have a rest versus London. We do look too back row heavy, either of Kirke and Bailey could do with coming back and getting some big minutes before the CC semi.

Whilst I agree that Kirke and Bailey need some game time to get match fit for the big games, I am not sure either offer any better go forward than our back-rowers each of whom offer equal or better tackle counts are quicker around the park and can play longer minutes too. So all in all we are more mobile and less ponderous with just one prop on the bench.

With Sinfield back the choice maybe between Aiton or a 4th prop on the bench.

Backrow heavy for me was an intentional tactic on Friday due to the weather, rather than an enforced tactic.

I think the coach got it right to do that, just a shame it only just worked though.

We cannot just rely upon JP, Kylie and Singleton when we come up against our fellow 'big boys'. Singleton runs some fantastic lines and is tough as nails but he doesn't make ground when the backs are against the wall. McDermott was saying the other day when he took Kylie and JP off we desperately lost our way....Well what are you going to do about that then BM?
We need a 4th unit in there or we will get bullied. Unfortunately that comes in the shape of Bailey or Kirke. Achurch can add some much needed kgs but doesn't bend his back enough either. Tick tock for the Semi Final....

Personally, I would like to see the youngsters get a run out and let the more 'mature players' have a rest prior to the CC

Yesterdays result is a clear warning and whilst its well known that im in favour of rotation and getting the younger lads game time I don't think we can underestimate the opposition.
Confident ,with a point to prove etc I'd keep the changes to a minimum but would like to see Mulhern come in if Bailey and Delaney are missing again.
JC-Sinfield is still banned.

Not for the CC which is the game I was referring to

Fair enough mis-read it!

Would imagine that the Bulls will try to “bully” us the week prior to the CC semi. IMHO it would be a mistake to rest players prior to that match ; pick a near full strength side and fight fire with fire. James Lowes usually has some sort of point to prove when it comes to Leeds. Attitude will play an important part. Just look at the fixture last year at Headingley. Come on Leeds make sure you have your heads switched on and everything will be alright.

Agree with this.
Lowe's will have them well fired up. He will have them motivated to get one over on those barstewards before we get relegated. Push them as far as possible as they won't want to get sent off before the semi. Try and bully them and see if they have the bottle. I can hear him now.
We should keep the changes to a minimum this time. Much depends on the fitness on Bailey and Delaney who if fit should play along with Kylie and possibly JP.
Its a good game to practice some moves and structures.
I want us to beat the hell out of Bradford and take that into the semi.

Part of me wants us to rest players due to the CC next Saturday then a part of me wants them to play to try and keep some sort of momentum going within the squad.

As long as we beat them, I'm not bothered.

We know by now that having a week off can be far from beneficial.

We have been showing distinct signs of improvement in the last couple of games so to keep a balance between keeping the momentum going and giving game time to players we will need to prove firtness I would start against Bradford with the same side as last week with the exception of perhaps giving JP and Ablett a rest. If Delaney, Kirke, Bailey and Achurch are all fit then they should all get game time with Ward and Minchella rested (and I mean rested not dropped) So if we started with Singo Aiton and Kylie with Delaney Walters and JJB and a bench of Sutcliffe, Kirke, Bailey and Achurch this should be strong enough for Bradford.

Assuming all are fit for the Cup semi I would play Sinfield at LF and keep Burrow and Mags in the halves (if all goes well against Bradford). My starting pack would be JP, Aiton and Delaney in the front row with JJB and Ablett in the 2nd row and Sinfield at LF. The bench would be Kylie, Walters, Sutcliffe and one other prop from Singo, Kirke, and Bailey based on who performed best against Bradford. Achurch would have to be outstanding to displace any of the other backrowers for the semi.

Blimey they only have to play one game a week. Full strength from now to the end of the season. Champion players should be able to cope with the pressure, so in my opinion it isn't the time for chopping & changing. Win the next 10 games and we'll have a clean sweep this season, arguably the only team capable of achieving it.