Out for 'several weeks' according to T and A www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... y_setback/ Along with Donno that's a real choker. Right centre has been a massive achilles heel and he's shown enough to suggest he could be a very handy player. Lulia and Pryce back so at least some positives.

Out for 'several weeks' according to T and A www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... y_setback/ Along with Donno that's a real choker. Right centre has been a massive achilles heel and he's shown enough to suggest he could be a very handy player. Lulia and Pryce back so at least some positives.

yes, Lulia wont be as match sharp as Purtell, but is a size for size replacement. Addy has played a fair amount over the last two seasons, but Donaldsons game has shown hes been out to prove a point this season, lets hope Addy has that same desire.

Quote ="M@islebugs"Out for 'several weeks' according to T and A www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... y_setback/ Along with Donno that's a real choker. Right centre has been a massive achilles heel and he's shown enough to suggest he could be a very handy player. Lulia and Pryce back so at least some positives.'" Not sure how serious a 'massive achilles heel' is. Does it make him run lop sided

Quote ="M@islebugs"Out for 'several weeks' according to T and A www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... y_setback/ Along with Donno that's a real choker. Right centre has been a massive achilles heel and he's shown enough to suggest he could be a very handy player. Lulia and Pryce back so at least some positives.'" Not sure how serious a 'massive achilles heel' is. Does it make him run lop sided

It's a shame about Purtell, but modern SL seems to be all about injuries, and squad juggling. One man's injury should be another man's opportunity, and this year we do have some half decent personnel to come in, so bring 'em on, I say.

Is this Ross Heppenstall a journalist then?

Or did he win a competition to get an article in the paper?

I'm not keen on the new journos articles either tbh.

Shame about Purtell, he looks really enthusiastic and chases everything at 100mph.

Really hoping Lulia plays. Looks a proper centre. Shame about purtell as he looks like someone who gives it to the opposition. Also in league express that Manuokafoa could be fit. Hope so! My line up would be:

1. Kearney
2. Crookes
3. Pryce
4. Lulia
5. Kear
6. Sammut
7. Gale
8. Scrtuton
9. Diskin
10. Kopczak
11. Whitehead
12. Sibbitt
13. Langley
14. L'estrange
15. Manuokafoa/Hargreaves
16. Walker
17. Burgess

18th. Joseph

He previously did Rugby Union reports for the likes of the Times, Sunday Times, Independent etc, with the occasional RL for the same market, so hes added RL and the T & A to his CV. I thought he looked a bit disinterested on a TnA video the other week, simply trotting out the Club line, but thats all part of the relationship, he trots out the club PR in exchange for info he can put on twitter as himself or on this site as Roger Daily.

Maybe my sarcasmagraph is faltering slightly here but that's more than a little bit harsh on Ross.

The lad's a good journo with a strong pedigree but will inevitably take time to get his feet properly under the table. Patience my dear Watson.

In mentioning his disinterest (not even the quality of his reporting) in just one report I feel I have been much less harsh than Stul, and yes as he builds up his experience of the Bulls he will be able to be more insightful. so not guilty mylud. Where I am guilty is in being totally cynical about the relationship between the club and the media including Ross, and I gladly acknowledge that! and perhaps because of that relationship he is just reflecting the rather unexciting Mick Potter in the message, whatever you may say about Ian motormouth hes certainly lively and even become gracious in defeat!

Indeed, at least you were making an observation, while Stul was downright rude.

I don't feel Ross was disinterested in that video, it's just the way he came across as he was likely uncomfortable doing his first piece to camera.

You are well within your rights to question the relationship between the club and the media because it serves nobody to have a fanbase which is completely deferential to the club. A healthy dose of cynicism helps in keeping everyone on their toes. However, I wouldn't say the relationship is quite how you paint it. Yes, the club give preferential treatment to the T&A in return for good coverage in its pages but nobody at the club, particularly Duffy, would insist that coverage is exclusively fawning.

The relationship between club and paper, whilst not [iexactly[/i symbiotic, is pretty much one of a 'win win' for both sides as it's fair to say they both benefit from it. It should never get [itoo[/i chummy, though.

I think Ross suffers from being the 'new boy' following Connor Murphy, who was widely respected by fans, and if I may say a sad loss, when he left for greener (?) pastures. It's unfair to pick on Ross though he should be given time to 'bed-in'.

Any chance anyone could update me/us about Purtell or has this just degenerated in to journo bashing/love in session?

I dont think theres anything new on Purtell, and the journo bashing finished as a score draw, I have adjusted my cynicism level down to healthy from totally.

Torn pec - 6 weeks.

Nasty injury.

Hopefully he can rest up and be back asap

Meh, rather frustrating for us and him i'm sure but these things happen. Glad Lulia is looking likely to be fit now.

aye, I'm sure we were all hoping for them being a pairing in the though.

That is a very harsh statement you have made against a very competent, effective and well respected sports journalist.

You should also note that Ross is having his second spell at Odsal after covering the Bradford Bulls during the feel good halcyon days of the early 2000's and I don't seem to recollect any complaints about his journalistic style then.

As Bulliac correctly says "The relationship between club and paper, whilst not exactly symbiotic, is pretty much one of a 'win win' for both sides as it's fair to say they both benefit from it. It should never get too chummy."

The above is true but on the flip side of this have you ever thought that at times during the pre-season/season the club may not have or be sending any information Ross's way.

If there is simply no news to report from the club, what do you expect Ross to do? Do a Dave Craven and start making stuff up which ends up being detrimental to the club?

I know that Connor Murphy set the bar high during his two years at the T&A but it was only after the first six months that everyone started singing what a breath of fresh air he was.

It's only right that Ross is given that same time to settle in and do what he does best.

And you can't say fairer than that!

I think ross is reporting things well!

Yes, give him time to find his own voice, but genuinely his own. I thought the flow of articles pre season was pretty good, as it covered players that were returning from injury and almost new recruits as well as actual new recruits, and just when the pledge 2 scheme was open, providing a bit of perspective on the difficulties of last season.

I wouldn't start defending journalists if I were you Mick, even if you've now joined the 'pres pack' . What did Craven make up by the way? They'll take your NUJ card off you for that kind of talk.

On Murphy the six monthly watershed you speak of roughly corresponded with Murphy's long piece publicly urging the board to renew Macnamara's contract. In the aftermath of this 'foot in mouth' moment he did go on to produce some genuinely analytical pieces which adequately reflected the disappointment of the fan base. He also appeared to have genuine affection for the club but to say he set the bar high is over egging the pudding IMO.

I can't for the life of me think what there is significant to gripe about in the case of either Murphy or Heptonstall. Maybe I'm missing something. Journalists do what journalists do, and I doubt they would consider they need any 'defending'. The T&A doesn't give a whole lot of information out about in depth Bulls stuff, but I presume that this won't be for lack of asking. What is the issue with Heptonstall, then? What do people want? Paul Foot?

OK. I didn't live in Bradford during his previous spell (and I don't now) so I didn't see his work then.

To me, his work seems to be uninspired and formulaic - I accept your point about there being nothing to write - and dotted with poor English. His work reads like the half-witted correspondents at the bottom of the page.

I get the impression that he would rather be doing anything other than reporting on the Bulls. Still, I don't care, I just won't read it.