Out of our out of contract players, who would you keep on and why?

This is going on the list on RAB, so I think they are all correct.

Halley - Would keep for cover and to push the other 2 IMO first choice wingers. IMO, he's probs quite cheap. Keep

Walker - He's versatile, but picks up to many injuries. I imagine due to his status within the game I dont think he will be that cheap so his salary could be used better elsewhere. Let Go

Ah Van - IMO he's one of our first choice wingers. I think he's a really hardworker and a good goal kicker. keep.

Kearney - I neither think he's a bad player or a great player, just OK. Probably one of the top earners at the club. Neither the best stand off or fb at the club, overseas quota and more than likley hefty wage could be put to better usage IMO. Let Go

Herbert - Would definately let Herbert go. Hasn't shown anything to suggest we should keep him for longer than this season IMO. Could have better usage of overseas quota. Let Go

L'estrange - Would keep Heath, never gives in and often comes up with some influential plays. Keep

Ainscough - Same reasons as Halley. Not as versatile, but the next best winger after Ah Van and Raynor IMO. Reckon he's cheap enough to keep for that role. Keep

Raynor - I think Rayor is the best winger at the club despite his advancing years. Always keen to muck in and help out the forwards. Dont imagine he'll be too expensive either. Keep

Royston - despite being sceptical, Royston has been a revelation. Far more dependable and offers just as much if not more than Kearney. Would like to see him play FB all next season unless we bring in a world beater or highly promising youngster in that position. Keep

Finnigan - Looked good last season, havent seen him this year. Surely some time to develop at Bradford would be a good idea. Keep

Liam McAvoy - Haven't seen him play much. Doesn't look right big though. Another couple of years maybe. Keep


So i'd let go Walker, Kearney and Herbert and look to bring in a high quality centre first and foremost. There are other areas that we need to improve on, such as prop, possibly half back, but if Briggs and Jeffries can strike up a partnership then who knows what we'll be like in that area in the future.

What would you foolks do?

i agree with Hebert being released. the quota spots are so valuable and we can't afford to have someone with his lack of ability to take one of those spots. I would possibly look at getting rid of Halley as i don't think he is all that. Kearney for me is one of our best players, while i don't rate him as highly as some he is still a good player for the situation we are in. Chev Walker annoyed me, i hoped he would be up to scratch but he just isnt the same lad as he was at leeds. Injuries have taken the toil and he will leave. I would preferably like to have Leon Pryce come in and help out Briggs more as he seems to be inconsistent at the moment.

Out of the list....

Halley - Would keep for cover and also give him chance to play under Potter - everyone is still judging him when playing for previous regime.

Walker - Not seen anything about him that's special. Big strong lad but you can't use the word potential with this guy, he's been around too long. If we don't get performances this year, they will never come.

Ah Van - Probably the best signing this year - positioning needs improving defensively but puts in a great effort and carries the trend of powerful Bradford wingers.

Kearney - Will demand to be our top earner if we keep him. Although he has done well this year, still think he makes the wrong options when directing the players around - sometimes holds onto the ball far too long. Not bothered if he stays or goes. (I do like the guy, but would play him full back).

Herbert - Lots of effort but not spectacular. Would probably keep if no other options were available - would be a good squad player and wouldn't be on a big wage.

L'estrange - Defo keep - one of the best players this year

Ainscough - I think we will see more of the guy now the Bulls seem to be able to throw a couple of passes. Think this guy has the potential to be a first choice winger.

Raynor - Reserving Judgement until end of the year.

Royston - Solid squad player - keep

Finnigan - Can't comment

Liam McAvoy - Cant comment

Out of the list above - i would only release Walker. We have a good squad (when fit). Just need to add some quality to what we have. Wholesale changes will hold us back from finding form as we would be where we started this year.

I do have a feeling Kearney is shopping around to see what is offered. Whether we keep him or not might not be our decision.

definite keepers: ah van,l'estrange,royston

definite let go : walker

the rest:

I'd keep 2 out of raynor,ainscough and halley. can see arguments for keeping/losing any of them. think my preference would be keeping ainscough and raynor with halley going but not too fussed if a different permutation.

Kearney. provided wage demands arent ridiculous think its a no brainer to keep him. Only reason to let him go is if theres someone whos a genuine improvement available at either half or FB.

Herbert. undecided TBH. I really like some aspects of his game but at same time he's not really stood out and takes a quota spot. would let him go if we needed quota spot but otherwise retain as backup.

mcavoy and finnigan both to be retained as havent seen enough to judge yet.

Halley - Think he's steady and worth a place in the squad. Could see his first outing Sunday - Keep

Walker - If it wasn't for injuries I think he would have gone really well. But they will go against him - Let go

Ah Van - Hasn't set the world on fire but has gotten a lot better - Keep

Kearney - If he is holding the club to ransom over a contract then i say we let him go and look at someone else. Maybe a centre. - Let go

Herbert - I can't see us keeping him to be fair, hasn't brought a great deal top the table and why sign BJ on an 18 month contract if he was to stay. - Let go

L'estrange - Keep

Ainscough - If we start shipping the ball wide he will score a hat full - Keep

Raynor - Age not on his side but might be worth another year - Keep

Royston - Said from the off, Class! - Keep

Finnigan - I think his chance has gone gone to be fair but its between him and Halley to play Sunday - Let go

Liam McAvoy - Not seen enough to comment

A bit harsh!

Scored a few tries last season in a side that was short on confidence. Hasn't had a chance this year,

I think its a bit unfair to say that his chance has 'gone' - he's not really had one yet....

Halley- Not a bad player but at 25 I don't think we'll see any dramatic improvement. Release.

Walker- Had a tough year with injuries but I think his days at centre are past him now. We have some decent Juniors in the backrow already. I'd like to see an experienced Loose forward brought in. Release.

Ah Van - Has improved over the last couple of months and works hard for the team. If he had an extra yard of pace he could be devastating. 50/50 call for me, depends what else is available from overseas but I wouldn't object to him getting a new deal. Keep unless proven quality winger/centre available.

Kearney- Great offensively but weak tackler. Prefer to see him at FB than stand off. Would like to see him stay but not for silly money. We may need the overseas spot to bolster our threequarters. Keep

Herbert- Has had a solid season so far and has received a lot more criticism than justified. Having said that, I think we should explore other options for halfback next year. Release

L'Estrange- Great player who enjoys playing for the club- Keep.

Ainscough- A player who gives everything and works hard for the team. Another year under Potter and I think he still has some improvement- Keep.

Raynor- Sucked in too often for an experienced winger but has looked good in attack. At 34 he might be getting a bit past his best by 2012. I would look to replace him if possible. Release

Royston- Proved he can handle playing SL and has performed consistently at FB- Keep

Finnigan- Not seen anything from him since pre season, so difficult to judge. Keep

Recruitment for 2012 needs to focus on a winger, centre, stand off, halfback and Prop/Loose Forward.

If you quote the full sentence I said its between him and Halley to get a game on Sunday. I thought we might have seen him by now that is all.

I hope he proves me wrong

I don't want to state the obvious, but who goes depends on who becomes available.

I would definitely keep Royston and Ainscough. Also happy to see Ah Van, L'Estrange and Kearney stick around - but not if Vatuvai, Ennis and Duggan, for example, express a sudden desire to move to West Yorkshire.

Similarly, Herbert obviously hasn't set the world alive. He was obviously (and rightly) preferred to the option of no half back. I would continue to prefer him to that option next year.

Not fussed about Walker and Raynor - think we have stronger in the squad.

Most comments here are about the Backline - seems strange when we have the worst forward pack in the comp with the worst defensive record. I think the halves and the rest of the backline would love to play behind a dominant pack that goes forward and repels the attacking team rather than drop most of the ball and make the halves play off the back foot. Last game the forwards had a go and the result was the backs looked much better. Bet Herbert and Kearney would like to see that sort of effort rather than the rubbish forwards they have played behind all year. Don't think we have seen a game this year where the forwards were dominant. In the state of Origin Queensland bashed New South Wales in the first 20mins and Thuston, Smith and Lockyer toyed with them.

I would like to see hard working forwards brought in Plus a couple of centres that know how to defend.

to have at least two out of Scruton Langley and Elima injured at the same has meant reliance upon youth, whose stats are nowhere near as good, and not what Potter said he wanted to do at the start of the season. The Wigan game showed what having just one of those three unavailable, and Langley closer to full match fitness means. So to me any judgement about the forwards need to wait until theres been a few weeks of the first choices playing together. As with the backs, we need a few more weeks of a settled half back partnership and more first choices back to see how they all go. certainly in teh second half of the season all the one yearers should be putting everything in to it whether they want to stay or go, so we may see different opinions to those expressed so far on a good thread. The most interesting return from injury is going to be Herbert, and what his best position is seen to be.

Just my OPINION but id keep Walker, i just think he has been unfortunate with injuries this season - i dont think he is over the hill just yet and has plenty of potential IF he can stay fit once back from injury, possibly playing in at second row - the final part of the season will be vital for him !!

Raynor - Still has the pace and strength to be a quality winger, still one of the best IMO, just lack of the ball in first half of season to do ought

Ainscough is a keeper, young lad with a bucket full of passion, great potential - just again unfortuante to get injured - but dont thin he has been given a full chance yet.

Ah van should be tried at Stand off, if ainy and raynor fit on the wings, and jeffries at 7 - Briggs is ok but i think could be utilised better as a loose forward.

Herbert - not too sure, with the results and the way the team has been playing not really given space.

Kearney - definately a keeper, back in at full back, missed his creativness through injury



Royston been a good stand in at FB for kearney but could always be pushed to centres.

L'Estrange - again no brainer for me - defo a keeper



Halley/Finnegan - need to be given a chance now with injuries to prove their worth

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As someone did mention forwards:-

Lynch - although i like the guy and has been a good player for us maybe the time has come to move on ???

Donaldson - not been given a fair crack this season IMO good young talent, who showed lots of improvement before getting injured last season

Koppy/Whitehead - Play hot and cold i feel but defo worth keeping for years to come as we need to keep the english youngsters, to save quotas.

Langley - although spends a lot of time on the sides when he is available he plays with the pride and passion we need in the squad !!!