Sunday 11th January sees us play our first pre-season friendly away at Castleford to celebrate Andy Lynch's testimonial. Squads should start to crop up next week. Luke Gale will probably have a blinder for Cas. Big question: Will Chev Walker play at prop?! Ticket info: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/art ... n-friendly

Sunday 11th January sees us play our first pre-season friendly away at Castleford to celebrate Andy Lynch's testimonial. Squads should start to crop up next week. Luke Gale will probably have a blinder for Cas. Big question: Will Chev Walker play at prop?! Ticket info: www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/art ... n-friendly

My team:

1. Mullaney
2. Williams
3. Blythe
4. Purts
5. Uisele
6. Gaskell
7. Siejka
8. Clough
9. O'Brien
10. Sidlow
11. Ferguson
12. Pitts
13. Addy
----
14. Baile
15. Davies
16. Lauaki/Tahraoui
17. Mellor

Obviously, in your Team....No....



Happy New Year..

I expect both Coach's to field a 13 that represents something akin to what they think could start the season proper at sometime during the game with the majority of the rest of squad being given some game time. Both Coach's will say the result is not important but they both don't like to lose. It will be a similar exercise for the other two friendlies with the last one approaching a starting 17-18 for the game at Leigh. The usual injuries not withstanding and also early season form with some players can also impact on how the Team finally shapes up.
Still its good that the Fans have something to fret and worry about on the field as opposed to off it!

I tend to the view that, with players from both sides coming and going on and off field every few minutes, the result in friendlies doesn't really matter over much, though as said, the players involved would no doubt hope to come away with a win. For me, and I'd guess the coaches, it's much more important to see how people play, how they fit together, and maybe work out what the starting line up is likely to be when the season proper starts. With that in mind, I wonder if we'll get the squad list before the 11th?

how many subs in the squad for friendlies?

all 30 of the squad will play over the 3 friendlies so I would like to see as many of the "unknowns"/understudies getting a go in the first two friendlies, without having too many on the pitch at one time. For example giving Mullaney a spell at half back and therefore Ulugia/Uisele at FB would best be done earlier rather than later. We already know what Addy is like at ??? (add any position of your choice) so finding out about Petersen at LF is important,, etc etc.

I think we'll start with a side a bit like how dddooommm has come up with but then give quite a few lads a chance as the game goes on. As a result I'm not expecting a great spectacle as lots of subs can disrupt things. I'll be there.

Not even going to attempt to pick a 17 for the game as I have no idea who Jimmy regards as his strongest for each position.
However, from some of the things he's posted on twitter, I kind of get the impression that Blythe has picked up a back injury and probably won't be featuring in this game, at least.

Castleford Tigers squad to face Bradford Bulls:
1 LUKE DORN
2 JAMES CLARE
3 JAKE WEBSTER
5 JUSTIN CARNEY
6 BEN ROBERTS
7 LUKE GALE
8 ANDY LYNCH
9 ADAM MILNER
10 GRANT MILLINGTON
11 OLIVER HOLMES
12 MATT COOK
13 NATHAN MASSEY
16 JUNIOR MOORS
17 SCOTT MOORE
19 SCOTT WHEELDON
20 DENNY SOLOMONA
21 LIAM FINN
22 JORDAN TANSEY
23 MICHAEL CHANNING
24 MIKE MCMEEKEN
25 STEVE CROSSLEY
26 ASHLEY GIBSON

We can lose these three games and the first four league games (seven) as long as we win the last seven games of the season. That will do me nicely.

The result at the end of these three games is utterly irrelevant - how we perform is not.

Widnes had three players sin-binned in their friendly tonight against Wire. I suspect the refs may be using these friendlies to hammer home whatever rules they've been told to focus on this season.

Bulls 22-man squad: Mullaney, Tahraoui, Brook, Shaw, Walshaw, Addy, Uaisele, Siejka, Clough, Sidlow, Walker, Baile, Ulugia, Davies, Halafihi, Conroy, Mellor, Pitts, Olbison, O'Brien, Gaskell, Purtell.

So, looking at the team list, possible starting line up

1. Jake Mullaney
2. Chris Ulugia
3. Adrian Purtell
4. Jean-Philippe Baile
5. Etu Uaisele
6. Lee Gaskell
7. Harry Siejka
8. Adam Sidlow
9. Adam O’Brien
10. Paul Clough
11. Tom Olbison
12. Jay Pitts
13. Chev Walker

Subs
Danny Addy, Nathan Conroy, Karl Davies, Vila Halafihi, Alex Mellor, Ryan Shaw, Samir Tahraoui, Lucas Walshaw, Adam Brook

The trouble is the back line, we seem to have a lot of guys who have centre as their preferred role but only 2 who pick the wing.

But I suppose that's what's good about having these friendlies, Jimmy can swap around and see what works and what doesn't in an actual game.

Mullaney, Tahraoui, Brook, Shaw, Walshaw, Addy, Uaisele, Siejka, Clough, Sidlow, Walker, Baile, Ulugia, Davies, Halafihi, Conroy, Mellor, Pitts, Olbison, O'Brien, Gaskell, Purtell.


Mullaney
Shaw
Purtell
Ulugia
Uaisele
Gaskell
Siejka
Sidlow
AoB
Clough
Pitts
Olbison
Addy

Subs: everybody else

Really exciting trying to work out my starting 13 from that squad, and that's still with the likes of Blythe, Fleming, Ferguson, Petersen, Lauaki, Williams and Henry to come in!

I think with Walker being captain he’ll figure in the backrow somewhere. I think we’ll line up like this....


Mullaney, Uaisele, Purtell, Baille, Ulugia, Gaskell, Siejka, Sidlow, O’Brien, Clough, Pitts, Walker, Addy. Shaw, Brook, Walshaw, Tahraoui, Davies, Halafihi, Conroy, Mellor, Olbison.

Lots of size on the bench.

Can't argue with that tactic. The sooner players come to terms with the new interpretations the better.

What are the new interpretations that could possibly lead to sin bins? I seem to recall some new interpretation regarding fighting. Given it was Wire vs Widnes last night there was probably some agro.

A Hunslet supporting pal of mine says that in the Championship we can expect a lot more “physicality” than in SL and officials seem to either miss more or let it slide. It’ll be interesting to see how we react to that side of the game given that many of our players haven’t played in the championship.

Well one of them was sin-binned for a ball steal, so I don't think it was fighting or any new rules that have come in this year. I think it might just be areas they are trying to 'clamp down' on, or it could just be James Child being a total c0ck as usual.

Quite a few have played down there though, and Karl has coached in that division, so I'm sure the players will be prepared.

Mullaney
Shaw/Ulugia
Purtell
Baile
Uisele

Gaskell
Siejka

Sidlow
AOB
Clough
Olbison
Pitts
Walker

Tahraouoi - replaces Clough
Davies - for Sidlow
Shaw/Ulugia -shuffle as necessary so Ulugia replaces Mullaney
Walshaw - for Olbison
Mellor - for Pitts
Addy - Walker
Brook - for Siejka
Halafihi for AOB/Conroy
Conroy for AOB/Halafihi

Not suggesting all those subs even if that were possible, and of course other options eg Walshaw for Purtell or Baile

I made a trip down to watch Batley and Dewsbury on Boxing day. At one point during the first half the game became farcical with the amount of scrapping going on. Roby was the man with the whistle that day and poilced it fairly well. Hopefully the Championship referees do that same.

I'm expecting a massive amount of physicality and 'Biff' next season.

On paper that teams looks pretty good. Don't think teams will like visiting Odsal. I think you lot will win the league pre merger.

It looks like Danny Williams has been added to the squad for Sunday, no news yet who he's replacing.

Bulls are 14-6 up at the break, with tries from Jay Pitts, Ryan Shaw and Adrian Purtell. It sounds like Lee Gaskell and Jake Mullaney are having great games so far.