I thought Handley was only switched recently and had played more games this year on the wing. How many games has he played this year at centre?

I think the squad looks pretty strong considering the injured players(even if they are precautionary). Fair play for resting a couple too.

Up to the players coming in to put their hands for regular first team action.

He's played quite a few there that I've seen JC don't have the exact stats though.

Hopefully Handley is better than when I watched him in the Hunslet friendly at the beginning of the year.

The back 3 of him, Ashton Goulding and Torin Longstaff put in the worst performance of a back 3 I've ever witnessed. Goulding in particular made Vickery look Hall-esque.

Also recall saying the only standouts on that day from the hyped youngsters were Josh Walters and Robbie Ward......and low and behold several months later.

I had the feeling that he only played at centre for the last 5 or 6 games which is not a lot of experience to step up to play centre in SL. He could be more comfortable on the wing for his debut IMO. Depends how he has gone in training I guess because he is a big guy and having a good season.

Definitely played more than 5/6 games there JC!
Printer-However bad Golding and Handley were in that pre-season game they aren't hyped and both very good prospects.

we really can't afford to slip up tonight. with Saints (H) Wigan (A) and Hull (A) as 3 of our last 4 these could turn out to be a vital couple of points.

I agree but seems clear CC semi is the priority given the 'weakened' team tonight against a Bulls team that will be fired up (or so you'd think) with it been the last derby for at least a year and with them high on confidence after last week and the return of Lowes to HQ.

Can see Bradford trying to 'rough' us up tonight knowing that our players cannot risk getting too involved in the 'biff' with the semi next week

I think tonight is a tougher game than most will have been expecting a few weeks ago.

On paper our next two league games should have been and should still be 4 points against the two relegated teams which could end up us being in pole position for the hub cap..... But if we win next week, we play London the week before the final. In that scenario another weakened team on the cards......Broncos first win of season anyone??

they've beaten us before the week before Wembley if memory serves me right

If as seems likely according to the weather forecast tonight's game will be played in the wet then that further helps the Bulls.
I'll be going tonight with a sense of foreboding, recalling the disappointment of this game last season.

Forecast sounds bloody awful for tonight.

My highlight for this evening will be drowning myself in Meat at Reds BBQ before hand then washing it down with several watery Beers in the South Stand.

Hard to know whether the injured players could have played or not. Assuming there was choice, I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating when you rest players. If you lose a game you would expect to win, then inevitably questions will be asked. If you win then it's the right decision.

I still think a first or second place finish is a real possibility, but it would start to look fairly unlikely if we lost tonight. Top 4 is a must I think (despite our past success from below there, I wouldn't want to count on replicating it) and I definitely think there's an advantage to playing the big play off games at home (though I would put home advantage second to form and momentum on the list).

You can get a passable pint of Black Sheep bitter in the sports bar on the cricket side of the north stand.

I keep bloody forgetting about that place!
Cheers Old Feller.

With the weather looking this bad then the absence of the three quarters might not be too noticeable as we had similar weather vs Hull a few months back and it really wasn't a game for the backs to have too much of an influence on then.

It's going to be a grind and not pretty.

You're welcome just look out for the short measures though.

Can anyone explain Yorkshire Day to me? People keep banging on about it, but when I ask them what it actually means / is for, the answer I seem to get is 'well, y'know, it's Yorkshire Day!' or 'it's Yorkshire Day - for all things Yorkshire'.

It almost feels like no-one actually knows what the point of it is. Maybe a bit like Easter has become in more recent times (ooh, a bit of religious / social satire)

For some reason, I now think that this would be an excellent name for a backing band made up of dwarfs.

"Give it up fro Old Feller and The Short Measures!"

No?

Oh well.

When local govt reorganization in 1974 did away with the East, North & West Ridings administratively, there was a backlash leading to the formation of a Yorkshire Society who decided that August 1st would be Yorkshire Day. There does not seem to me to be any firm historical data that associates this date with anything specifically Yorkshire related: www.historynet.com/today-in-history It is not like Easter but is akin to Mother's Day, Father's Day & any other commercially motivated so-called special days. Just regard it as a day to celebrate this wonderful county of ours in any way you wish. Beating the Bulls would do just fine for me.

When local govt reorganization in 1974 did away with the East, North & West Ridings administratively, there was a backlash leading to the formation of a Yorkshire Society who decided that August 1st would be Yorkshire Day. There does not seem to me to be any firm historical data that associates this date with anything specifically Yorkshire related: www.historynet.com/today-in-history It is not like Easter but is akin to Mother's Day, Father's Day & any other commercially motivated so-called special days. Just regard it as a day to celebrate this wonderful county of ours in any way you wish. Beating the Bulls would do just fine for me.

Have you been peeping again?
By the way I'm not a dwarf, I'm small but perfectly formed.

Yesterday was national orgasm day. Don't tell me you took a pass on that also.

Don't forget if its not from Yorkshire it's s**te.

Team announced:

Hardaker

Briscoe
Sutcliffe
Walters
BJB

McGuire
Burrow

Leuluai
Aiton
Singleton
JJB
Achurch
Delaney

R.Ward
L.Briscoe
Kirke
Minchella

It's bad isn't it. Hope proved wrong, but think the Bulls will get their desired win tonight, and probably comfortably.

McDermott is taking some risk - centres look a bit odd

Against London yes but I think Bradford must be in with a real chance tonight

Imo that team should still beat a poor Bradford side