A good defence demoralises apposing teams. There have been some great defensive teams that have graced the Odsal Turf in the years gone by.

I hardly know much about the "New Team" I am interested to know from all what part of Jimmys thinking with the players he has brought in, will harden the bulls defence and shut out the opposition.

Our defence looked pretty good versus Cas and again not too bad versus Leeds. Walker and Purtell looked a bit vulnerable last Sunday but they won’t be marking Watkins and Moon every week.

Our extra power in the front row should mean energy levels will be higher which has got to help our defence. IIRC Clough has a good defence with relatively few missed tackles. If Ferguson can get on the field he’s the same. Pitts looks very hungry from what I can see.

On the fringes Lowes has plenty of options but some look safer than others. Good job we have a big squad.

Indeed!

Agree about the defence, we've looked keen, which is half the battle and given decent displays against two SL clubs, one of them likely to be in the top four and it's very fair to say we're unlikely to face that level of opponent too often in the championship.

Given we've only played the two games though, it seems we've picked up a few injuries. Don't know what Jimmy has been doing to them but I hope they're all safely wrapped up for the army exercises..

Well we know Mullaney got a knock versus Leeds and Baille got one at Cas

Blythe, Petersen and Fleming have been carrying knocks and Ferguson hasn’t been risked for some reason.

Not sure why Addy missed out on Sunday or why Bates has missed both games.

Lauaki hasn’t turned up yet. I hope he hasn’t been on the pies since Manly’s season finished.

That’s 8 affected off the top of my head.

How has Walshaw gone in the friendly matches?

People who saw mullaney after match say it was just a knock. Think we can add uiasele to ones potentially carrying a knock given his non selection. Did o'brien come back on later in Leeds game? He seemed to come off for conroy fairly early.

O'Brien did come back on, yes.

I Heard Blythe is laid up with serious back issues, may be touch and go if he plays this year.

Blythe's important for us so I hope he does make it back this year.

Walshaw's done ok. He's a big unit but is quite quick. Could do a job in the centres I reckon, he's quicker than Chev.

Have you looked at the table showing by player missed tackles: made tackles ratios on page 1 of Bulls Squad 2015, where the stats are available. The front row is a big improvement not simply in numbers but few missed tackles, likewise Baille Pitts and Walshaw look good defensively and Williams for a wing is decent. Bullseyes point about the props is a good one, the rest of the team will benefit. when you are tired concentration goes tackles get missed etc etc

Thank you, and thank to the others. I have been watching RL and a Bulls supporter for 30+ years. Maybe i'm a old diehard. The Defensive performance seriously effects the go forward and eventually freedom in the red zone.

Watching and listening over recent years is not so much the skills in attack, however our ability to correctly focus defensively. Which has put the team in a position where it has too much to do.

The main thing is that the front row is going forward and Davies and Tahroui look made of the right stuff. The halves have shown promise (Gaskell is a SL player).

Everything else is fixable. I thought that Chev has been at his most effective in recent years coming off the bench to play as an extra prop/loose - a bit like Langley did, only quicker but not as big or strong in defence.

The injuries are a concern, particularly Ferguson and Blythe, but that's what a squad is for.

The pre-season sounds very tough in preparation for a very difficult opener at Leigh. some on their board are saying they'll put 40 on us.

I think some Leythers might be getting a bit ahead of themselves if they’re tipping a win by 40. They’ve had it relatively easy last year and may have got used to running away with games. Signing Moi Moi and beating Wigan in pre season has put them on a high.

I expect a closer game than a 40 point stuffing. Leigh are well drilled and have had the benefit of a settled squad so they’re favourites but a win for us is definitely possible. I hope their players take us as lightly as some of their fans!

They're also used to winning, and that breeds a trust in your mates to give everything.

A look at their squad immediately tells you that they are a lot more than the sum of their parts and that Rowley is a serious coach. I haven't seen them play but I've heard they are a big, physical side who keep coming.

At Headingley the defensive structure looked much improved. To me I thought there were fewer missed tackles and when Leeds broke through there was usually a player or players available to recover.Of the 6 Leeds tries, 2 were directly attributable to our attacking errors - the interception early doors and Purtells attempt to intercept. Only Lelulais try under the post displayed a basic lack of defensive structure.
As noted by many the set of props is a promising mix of solid and impact players. I think Lauaki is a gamble but if that gamble doesn't come off there's enough in numbers and quality to cover.Conroy and Halafihi looked sharp
I was particularly impressed by the improvement in Olbison's technique. Paired with Ferguson ,our second row could be formidable.

On most of the forums and boards we are being accused of being big headed but I haven't seen many (in fact no one on here) bigging us up.

Yet Leigh fans have gone through the roof with the arrogance.

I have not heard any arrogance from any bulls supporters and clearly Leigh are a quality team in the Championship.

I am confident we will perform when it matters, the loss of the Hudds game is a shame as it was an additional match the team needed for testing different scenarios.

I doubt any but the most rose-tinted Leigh fans are expecting an easy win against Bradford.

Bookies have us as level for that 1st match and they aren't usually too far off.

I think/hope Leigh will edge it but we'll need to be at our best and keep silly errors and pens to a minimum.

Should be a great game, can't wait.

On facebook all I read is "typical bradford think they are gonna walk it". But you scan up and down the thread and not one bulls fan is saying that. Some chippy fans desperately WANT us to be arrogant so they can justify their ignorant ranting.

Like you say I have no axe to grind with Leigh but they are exuding overconfidence. Even some feath fans think they are going to "smash it" after signing gaz "what's a contract? " carvell.

Fev have signed Wood, Carvell in the props and Maitua in the second row, plus another big prop from Newtown Jets, Verlinden. If Hay gets them on the pitch and rolling they'll be a handful in the Championship no doubt.

" Paired with Ferguson ,our second row could be formidable."

IF we see Ferguson - what on earth has been happening since we signed him?

Most championship fans have learnt over the years that our loveable Clown and his side kicks are not to be taken too seriously, meanwhile back in the real world most of us (the other Leigh fans) expect us to start the season just like the last one by winning the first three game 52 to not very many.

Looking at the photo's posted on the Bulls facebook page it seems Ferguson has been fully involved in this weeks "army experience" so lets hope he's nearing full fitness to play..

I am definitely going to try and get of work for the first match. Could be a real nail biter.

No one really has commented in detail about Siejka and his opening matches apart from forgetting his kicking boots. I really want to see what the Lumberjack can do.