Don't think anyone suggested any fixed mindset or lack of ambition? Or of not striving to win every game regardless? Or of not enjoying the moment when two-fifths through the season we are third in the table (and no worse than fourth even if Leeds win at least one of their two games in hand), a position few could have dreamed of not that long ago.

The point being made was that the top eight still looks most likely to contain the six clubs plus two from the Hull clubs and us. our mission, I suggest, is to strive to ensure that we are safe in the eight, and it is the two Hull clubs (or indeed clubs of the so-called "top 6"icon_wink.gif that are fighting it out for the last spot. No point worrying about how the other clubs perform; we just have to ensure we perform better than at least six of them, and hopefully more. Which task would not be helped by both Hull clubs making up too much ground; the point that was being made.

Both arguments make sense to be honest. Whilst I agree ourselves and the two Hulls are the most likely to make up the numbers outside Eddie's list of 6 I actually think any of the current top 11 can do it. Both Hulls have plenty of duff games in them and Wakey and Widnes have more wins in them than most are giving them credit for.

Our biggest worries relate to injuries, especially up front. From what we've seen so far I don't think desire, fitness or willingness to perform are going to be serious concerns for us. The next three weeks are a big test. I'll be reasonably happy to get two points from the next six. I'd rather be in third going in to those games and maybe slipping down a notch or two than on the outside trying to fight back in.

Fully concur.

I think your last sentence is very, very pertinent.

Don't get me wrong, I think we're more likely to be competing for the 8 than
top four. But given that most people here would think we're an outside shout for the GF regardless of where we finish, I wouldn't underestimate the value of a run near the top of the table even mid-season. In a comp where we have less resources than any other club and only two trophies are available, it's good to find different ways to succeed and being third this week is one, admittedly minor, way in which we have succeeded already. Good luck to the lads in their attempts to build on it over the coming months.

Ways in which this could be a good year for the Bulls (on-field)

1. Cup run (Wembley?)
2. Make the eight/finish as high up the table as possible
3. Take a scalp or two in the play-offs
4. Take a scalp or two in the regular season
5. Have a run near the top of the league

Have I missed any? Even placing it bottom, it's still the 5th best thing we could do this year and so worth doing I reckon.

I think when the players look at the table and see we are 3rd, it will give them a massive confidence boost.

Well as many were tipping us to finish bottom before the season started (and I'll admit that I didn't see this season as anything other than us being also rans) I'd be happy for us to continue the season the way we've started it.

A cup run will be superb for us. Financially and profile wise. Tell everyone we're back on the big stage. A final could earn £1million for the kitty!

Do we receive all our play off money or are we sharing it with the other 7 play off teams if we make it?

I suggest we donate the lot to Ken Davy as a mark of our gratitude.

Or has that been confiscated too?

Just like last year, the points deduction was surely to ensure we could not make the playoffs (and it must have been scaring the life out of Rot Hall when, despite that, we so nearly did), maybe the Sky money confiscation this year has the same purpose? And us making the playoffs is just not in the script?

If so, all the more reason to so desperately hope that we do indeed make the playoffs; and maybe, just maybe, do a bit more than just that. And give the scriptwriters a good poke in the eye for their trouble.

What is for sure, is that the team spirit and drive and determination we have seen on the park this year is like nothing I can remember, not for a long time. Its like a continuation, and a step-up, from what we saw last year in the face of extreme adversity. This team is far far more than just the sum of its parts. You have to look back to the start of SL to find a parallel, I suggest? And, the icing on the cake is that we are playing a more exciting and interesting game than I can remember.

Whatever happens from now, on the park its been a much better year so far than I think any of us dared hope for?

Couldnt have put that better myself.

Did anyone suggest otherwise?

I am just being realistic here. Whilst we can be quite rightly proud of our side at the moment, it must be said that with our thinner squad then it may well get tough at the end of the season. Therefore, any dropped points by our rivals will help us out a great deal.

Interesting that the chairman of one of the clubs we will be battling with for the playoff spots has thrown in the towel?

Personally I would like to see play-off football this season, but as our friends at Valley Parade have shown a good cup run is both good for the bank and good for getting more feet through the turnstiles - in fact I think some of the extra feet might formally have come up to Odsal for the odd game?

I must be a "glass half empty" person, still wanted the Hull clubs to lose yesterday. Even though we've exceeded expectations we're still going to lose a few games and, with the teams bunched together, any defeat could see us slip a few places down the table. If we can establish daylight between ourselves and the Hull clubs those occassional losses will be less likely to create the pressure that could cause a slump.

Yeah, for once I don't think we majorly disagree. Have a lot of sympathy with your pragmatism and it may be that we curse the points the Hull clubs picked up yesterday by the end of the year. But stand by my point that being 3rd now is not totally inconsequential.

Looking at Hull FC this season it annoys me that we lost at their place when we were well capable of winning. Beating them at Odsal is a must.

I would not say that this is "glass half-empty" at all Cibaman - it is a realistic post and agreed with by a few well-respected posters on here, and me too.

The Realistic Tendency has been formed...

If we had played them on friday as was arranged before it was postponed i think we would have won, but the players getting there pumped then waiting around then having to leave and come back, i think knocked them off their game, we should also have beaten widnes but they showed some resolved non of us saw coming and bradford sat back and didnt really press on from the sending off.

It past now and all we can look is look forward to our other games and where we can pick up points.

We've also been lucky with injuries to the main three props who have hardly missed a game. These guys take the main impact and in a light squad an injury to one can cause a domino effect where having to play longer minutes causes fatigue/injuries to others.

Having said that the overall quality of the league is not what it was. Saints have let Gaskell go on loan and yesterday played Wilkins and Wellens in the halves which sounds weird.

Maybe next week against Wigan will tell us a bit more. With Gale back and not many out, 8 days prep we should show what we're made of.

Next week will be a real test, majority of their tries over the past few weeks have come on the wings, if we can get through their line we will score a few tries watced tomkins vs wakey and he didnt seem like he could tackle for toffee, he may be the best attcking FB but his defence can be suspect and if we can exploit it we should be able to have a real go.

3rd best attack in the league (only 3pts behind hudds) who would have thought it.

We've struggled at times when camped on the opposition goal line. Getting down there hasn't been that much of an issue but cracking a tight defence has sometimes been one. I'm hoping having Gale back will sort that out. Scoring isn't going to be a problem for us.

The way we're pushing the pass late in the tackle is compressing opposition defences and drawing extras into the tackle to wrap people up. An unfortunate consequence is that we're going to put a lot of ball down doing that, especially against the better defences.

I worry a bit about our defence going in to these next three games and our ability to mop those situations up.

Our general defence has been reasonably well organised this year - it is the gifts we present the opposition like the ones from Kear and Kearney against London which would open any side up. Our attacking play and support has been much better this year but do wish we would tighten up a bit on these high risk plays - especially when Kearney has come up into the line as if the ball goes to an opposition winger with pace like Dixon it's 6 points against.

Yeah, we're not all that bad. I think we lack a little bite though. A side like Wigan or Leeds can hit the ball up poorly for a few consecutive sets and it won't matter too much because they'll still concede less with their defence if they keep it together. I don't think the Bulls can say that. To be expected with a small lightweight squad, but it's what I'd be working on the most over the coming weeks.

When we're in the right frame of mind out goal line defence is as good as any e.g. Leeds away.

I am a bit concerned about us when we concede a few penalties or make mistakes in our own 20m. Against poorer sides we've managed to force an error before being punished but against the better sides our ill discipline has cost us the game e.g Saints (H). Similarly slow starts Hull (A) and 2nd Half at Widnes were poor.

Still in the main we've been good and thankfully have avoided injuries to the props, apart from Langley's brief period out.

The next few games are much tougher so I think in another 8 weeks or so we'll see a truer reflection of where we stand.