We as a team defended magnificently throughout the game yesterday, the determination, drive, heart passion and spirit was very much evident for those that made the short journey along the M62 to the game.

It was an greatly improved and much needed performance after what we had been party to just seven days previous, when Trent Robinson's Catalan Dragons side rewrote the Rugby League masterclass of "how to attack down the middle".

We were simply unrecognisable from the side that played the Catalan Dragons.

So it goes without question that Wigan on Sunday who will undoubtedly prove to be much skillful & sterner opposition (no disrespect intended to the Tigers) and a side that possess some great potent players who simply have the power and influence to score tries at will - see Sam Tomkins (26 tries last season), Josh Charnley (21 tries last season) and Pat Richards (20 tries last season).

Which ultimately means that the game winning defence we witnessed yesterday will really have to be more of the same determined heroic effort.

In the corresponding fixtures last year we really did see the inconsistent jekyll and hyde nature of the side with two out of the three games being over as a contest early on.

With the Challenge Cup Quarter Final defeat being one of the real highlights of season 2011 as Gareth Raynor was controversially dismissed in the 32nd minute for an high tackle on Sam Tomkins as he scored.
This controversial dismissal then going on to galvanise and motivate a Bradford side lacking in any real confidence.

Yesterday's result will certainly have helped to galvanise and instill that same confidence back into the team as they prepare to face Shaun Wane's Warriors from Wigan.
Who will be looking for back to back victories after emphatically beating the Super League champions Leeds at the DW Stadium Saturday gone.

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Last Seasons meetings between Bradford and Wigan.

20/2/11 | Bradford Bulls 10-44 Wigan Warriors | Referee: Phil Bentham | Attendance: 15,348
22/5/11 | Bradford Bulls 22-26 Wigan Warriors | Referee: Steve Ganson | Attendance: 5,876
19/8/11 | Wigan Warriors 60-12 Bradford Bulls | Referee: Ben Thaler | Attendance: 13,940

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Make no illusions in that Sunday could be another distinctly uncomfortable afternoon that we have to endure, but I'm optimistic that with Home debuts to Keith Lulia and Phil Joseph we can certainly match Wigan's physicality up front.

Roll on Super League Sunday.

Put no.

Think it will be a bit too much too early. I'm just hoping for the same effort and determination and i'll go home happy.

I agree with you in that's all we can ask for mate.

I think that the Pies, even more than Catalans, have too much class all over the field for us, as they have for most sides to be fair. Give us a few more games and we'd give them a better game, I've no doubt about that, but next Sunday I'll be happy if we give it a shot and aren't disgraced. Every season has its shocks though.........

2010 we came from 20-0 down and won and in that game we played very well in the first half, stranger things have happened

Hmm if we can keep within 18 points in the first half I will be extremely happy. If they win by 20 or less I will be extremely happy. If the Bulls colapse I will be annoyed.

I'm reserving judgement until I know how the squad looks. Lulia and Purtell fit obviously improves our chances, but with (potentially) both of them out I fear the worst.

It kind of goes without saying that getting two points from this fixture will be a tough ask. But if we show the same enthusiam and commitment as yesterday then we'll give ourselves a good chance. We'll need to massively improve our ball security and make sure we're on the right side of the penalty count too. It would also help if we don't get Richard Silverwood as ref..

If we're as up for it as we were on Sunday then I'll be happy and the result can take care of itself.

I don' t think we will win. (Unless of course someone is offering to pay me to stay away!) But I would like to see a bit of pride in the shirt and a competitive game.

I think we will win. Have a good feeling!

I have to say, head rules heart and I can't see us taking points from Wigan.

I would love to say we'll win, but I just hope we can keep the scoreline respectable.

Maybe a game or two too early but you never know.

Playing in the shirt with pride and I'll be happy.

It ill either be a fantastic Bulls win or an absolute mauling.

First thing i'd do is get inttheir half (easier said than done) and put a bomb to Tomkins. Think that is his one real weakness. Get Kearney chasing it. The guy is one of the best attacking of a high bomb i've seen. To do it once maybe lucky. To do it to Wellens & Owen shows how good he is at it and that it's no fluke and we have a real attacking option on our hands.. I would fancy Kearney catching it to be honest and if he doesn't make sure we have, Diskin, kopczak & Whitehead following to hit him hard.

Don't have to be dirty, but Wigan were extremely dominant against Leeds with some big hits. We have to fight fire with fire. We can't be nice and let them play. For me this is the acid test on Sunday. Drier, less muddy conditions and against a team who dominate teams and can bully you if you don't stand up.

If Gareth Hock starts pushing, lashing out, i want one of our forwards to get hold of him and let him know he's playing Bradford and isn't going to throw his weight around and he's in for a game. Lets get into them!

COYB!!

P.S After getting us fans a little excited after our first win and we try the build the team up, i gurantee Wigan will score in the first minute and murder us

Ganson to ref Wigan game - awesome

As long as he's consistent I'll be happy. Consistent with both teams that is... not consistently bad.

I'm happy with Ganson. It's true he does have his own unique style, for sure he's courted controversy and come up some bloomers in the past, but who hasn't? Bring it on.

I get sick of saying this, year in year out, and never even bothered prior to the Cas game, but sometimes you just have to be there, and bet anyone who was thinking about going to Cas but wavered is now regretting it. It was a satisying result, but as it was close and competitive throughout, and we had plenty of adversity, you and especially your ticker and your vocal cords got a more than full value for money workout.

And to me, the Wigan game has all the makings of a "you had to be there" occasion. It is set up for a mauling, and if we let Tomkins & Co. play it could easily be. I said before that I thought about 2 months in we would only just be becoming a settled side, used to playing together, and so in many ways this fixture comes far too early for us. Everything points to a fairly comfortable Wigan win. But if we show the same determination as we showed at Cas, then whatever the eventual result, we should be able to go home relatively happy.

I have a sneaky feeling that we can do it. Even if we can't, I expect you'll be able to make good money on the handicap betting when it comes out. And I forecast now that we will turn the pies over in the away leg so don't dare miss that one.

I'm looking at the game in the same light - shocks happen and I'd like to say I was there. The CC game last year is a good example, the team was performing awful in the league and everyone predicted a mauling for us, and even though we lost, it was a great performance to watch.

If the forwards show some aggression - we could give them a good game!

I'll be there but I'm not fussed about the scoreline, I'm sure it will be a lot of points for Wigan and not many for us.

It's the week after I care about, that is a game that we can't afford to slip up in.

What I suppose we all want to see is that the bad old days of Macca have gone whereby we back up an encouraging win by falling back to bad habits and peeing us all off.

Going down to Wigan because we tried very hard but aren't as good as them is something I can accept. We gain momentum not by winning per se, but by displaying desire and unity in consecutive games.

I have no problems with losing if we lose with pride and hard work against a better team. I don't want to see a heartless 50 plus points loss which shows we have learnt nothing from previous years. Plus it will be my first game of the season as i am briefly back from Uni, so don't let me down!

When we lost last year in the cup to Wigan, I had no problem with the defeat. Yes, it always hurts to lose but the team fought the whole match and only lost by 4 points even though we were down to 12 men for a lot of the game.

That sort of grit and determination has been in short supply at Odsal for a long time. Hopefully we might see some of it Sunday afternoon

Think we need to get behind the team and get the atmosphere up as soon as possible this is when the players start showing the fire and the determination.

Not being funny mate but have you seen Brett Kearney trying to catch a bomb? He's horrendous.