Well, what a start to the season we have made. We're third in the table, and we're undefeated in our last three matches. We now face a very difficult test in the south of France against the Catalan Dragons, and we'll have to play very well once again to take the two points.

James Donaldson and Keith Lulia are hopeful of being passed fit and could be playing this weekend , despite both going off with injuries against Hull KR. However it is still unknown whether Matt Diskin, Matt Blythe, Jamie Langley and Chev Walker will be passed fit.

Catalan are without Brent Webb and have played all season without Scott Dureau but still sit sixth in the table, level on points with the Bulls.

I'm not expecting to win this match but I hope for another good performance from the lads. If we play like we did at the weekend, however, I feel that we are capable of taking the two points.

I know there's different personnel, game plans and so on but do we still have the best away record against Cats?

I think we've only lost once there since they joined Super League. Not sure if that's the best record though.

Yeah, once in the league and once in the cup. After what, 8 seasons, it must be [ione[/i of the best at the very least!

Catalans are chronic slow starters. You can expect Bradford to get away to an early lead, but for Catalans to come back.

Watch out for replacement hooker Eloi Pelissier. He is very sharp out of dummy half against tiring opposition forwards.

Big bruising centre Vincent Duport has a pectoral muscle injury and may not play.

The new lineup last weekend had Bosc at full back with Pryce and Barthau in the halves. It worked and will probably continue. Bosc is very effective coming into the attack from full back, and his brilliant running created the space for Steve Menzies' try against Widnes.

Elima, Menzies & Pryce a few Ex Bulls in there!

Is anyone going this weekend? We are going on the CFW/CST Thurs to Sun package courtesy of the Make a Wish Foundation, as going to Perpignan to see the Bulls match is what Little Miss Cookie wished for and the Foundation has made this possible for her (none of this meeting 1D/JLS or being a "princess for day" for her

).

Hendo too!

If anyone has access to the Satellite channel BeIN (French) - can watch the game live : www.beinsport.fr/programmes Sat - 17:45 (French time) BeIN one.

If anyone has access to the Satellite channel BeIN (French) - can watch the game live : www.beinsport.fr/programmes Sat - 17:45 (French time) BeIN one.

Silverwoods the ref. not sure if that's good or bad tbh

It's intimidating over there but he knows that. Should do OK

Squad:

James Donaldson, Adam Sidlow, Adam O'Brien , Manase Manuokafoa, John Bateman, Brett Kearney, Nick Scruton, Heath L’Estrange , Adrian Purtell, Keith Lulia, Elliot Whitehead, Elliot Kear, Jarrod Sammut, Danny Addy ,Tom Olbison, Chev Walker, Jobe Murphy, Jamie Foster, Matt Diskin

Matt Diskin in for Sam Wood is the only change to the squad. Langley and Blythe still miss out due to injury.

I'd go:

1 Kearney
5 Kear
2 Purtell
3 Lulia
17 Foster
19 Addy
6 Sammut
8 Scruton
9 L'Estrange
10 Manuokafoa
11 Bateman
12 Whitehead
21 Donaldson

14 Diskin
15 Walker
16 Olbison
27 Sidlow

We're close to full strength now. It would be brilliant if Blythe and Langley were fit to play against Leeds, and lets hope for no injuries against Catalan.

This is probably what Cummings will go with, although personally I'd go with;

1. Kear
2. Purtell
3. Walker
4. Lulia
5. Foster
6. Kearney
7. Sammut
8. Scruton
9. L'estrange
10. Nas
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Donaldson
14. Diskin
15. Sidlow
16. Olbison
17. O'Brien - his defence was awesome last week, I'd play him at LF.

Don't think for one minute Cummings will try that, but it's what I personally would go with. Got a funny feeling we can beat the Dragons on Saturday

Will the team get to France ok? Have seen they are flying over tomorrow morning when heavy snow is expected.

Why would you just completely drop Addy from the entire team?

I was wondering that too.



I think we'll see FC using all the fit players over the next 3 games so we may see a few switches just to rest some bodies. I'm sure O'Brien will get plenty of chances.

A. Because he's not a half back and i think we can now move Kearney to half back until Gales fit.
B. All the back-rowers i think are playing better than him. Could possibly have him on the bench a head of O'brien, but i was really impressed with O'brien at the weekend and would like to see him again.

Anyway it doesn't really matter, the squad will be the one mentioned above my post. I personally think we're getting away wth Addy at half-back as we have dominated the last 3 games. Catalans is completely different.

Addy's no half back, nobody, not even Addy himself thinks so.

Neither is Kearney. However Kearney is in the form of his Bulls career playing at fullback and leading the try scoring charts and is top for us with assists.

Last week Addy came up with two kicks for tries, not bad for a backrower.

I would argue that moving these players around when they're settled and in form is barmy. Also what message does it send? Play well and still get dropped?

We dominated the game at Hudders, and the first half vs Widnes and the first half vs HKR. In the second half at Widnes we clung on and vs HKR we had to really tough it out. So not exactly all plain sailing.

Catalans will be tougher than those games, all the more excuse for not messing about with combinations that are working.

Kearney
Kear
Purtell
Lulia
Foster
Sammut
Addy
Scruton
Lestrange
Nas
Bateman
Whitehead
Olbison

Sidlow
OBrien
Donaldson
Walker

Kearney was also in the form of his life at 6. Personally i'd rather have someone who is more of a natural half back at 6. No one can argue that Kearney is not a better 6 than Addy. The line up i've suggested doesn't show us having to sacrifice anything in the back line for this to happen.

Take Addy out of the 13 and you lose another ball handler though, that puts more pressure on Sammut and Kearney and makes it an easier job for the Cats defence. It's harder to defend against a team that has three playmakers than two.

If you put Kear at fullback you put him in an unfamiliar position when he's been gradually improving on the wing.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Got to keep Kearney at full back. He's the top scorer in super league and in my opinion full back is his best position. We have to keep consistency in the team instead of moving people around too much.

I would say it will be the first squad mentioned...

Be interesting when Blythe returns.. Solid start to the season before injury and we all know the quality Purtell has!! Suppose competition for places is a good thing!

I'm with Bullseye on this. Indeed, I usually am, since he knows what he is talking about. Why the fekk mess with a line-up that has done the biz?

TBH, why would anyone ever want to play for the Bulls who can play multiple positions, and who holds their hand up when the need is upon us? All they ever get from some quarters is flak. Go ask the likes of Sykes about that? FWIW, I think Addy has done a great job at filling in, given he is no way a natural half back, and has looked every inch a decent SL player. His kicking game looks to have great potential. I'd hate to think that some of the utter waknerage directed at him would persuade him that his future lay elsewhere. Fekk that, it lays here; so give the guy a break ffs!!!