Apart from the first 60 minutes at Odsal, this season, there hasn't been anything between our two teams this past couple of years. I honestly don't see next Sunday being any different.

Form book is in favour of Leigh, but we under estimate Bradford at our peril.

Don't think yesterday has much to do with next weekend to be fair, other than, hopefully, geeing the side up a bit...well, OK, geeing the side up a lot.

Maybe we'll get more of the 'first choice' players back and the newcomers will, at least, have had the advantage of a game before we play Leigh but the defence will need to sharpen up by a good amount. The defence is really annoying though, as it has actually been very good on occasion but is wildly variable. We definitely need more time for the halves we have to gel before an appearance in the eights, but time is fast running out.

Time for the halves to gel? We don't have a scrum half to gel. Charnock looks crocked for a few weeks at least and have we even extended his deal with St Helens anyway? This side facing SL opposition will be hugely embarrassing. Doesn't look like that is likely to be an issue though as things stand.

We've just signed Joe Keyes from London, on a 3 year deal, so hopefully that should help.

Yep, hopefully we should have a nice HB partnership formed to rip up the championship shield



3 year deal would suggest we could build a squad around him and is a long term plan. Unfortunately, us looking like we're out of the M8s would suggest we're unable to build long term

:1zf4m2i3
To be honest mate, I gave up on this season some time back, certainly as far as doing well in the 8s, though I confess to being more than surprised at how we're apparently falling short of even making the qualifiers. I've said many times that I don't think any team will be promoted under the current system and I've yet to see anything to make me change that opinion.

All that said I'll be back next year, hoping for better - simply out of habit. AnywayI think we may be due one of the better showings at the LSV [it is [i:1zf4m2i3purely[/i but I'll be there for this one out of habit too..

But will the Bulls still be here and in what form? This is why i'm so angry and upset still The long term effects of yesterdays results could be catastrophic for this club. If it was one bad season and we could still come back next season and rebuild, then i would be more annoyed about this season rather than angry. But the inexcusable effort of some of this team have left us in a position it's not a case of us having the M8s this year, it's a case of we might not recover from this season due to the lack of financial funding in future years.

Then the players are tweeting about it being a disappointing result for the upteenth time this year and we'll come back stronger. It's almost like they don't grasp that they are on the brink of playing in the championship shield and what that will do for this club.

When did he last play for London?

Rohan Smith's comments suggest that he's one for the future. I wouldn't get your hopes up that he's a wonder kid here to save our season. Glad we've got one at last though.

Yep, that was my thoughts as well. Least we have a bit of planning ahead going on though. Perhaps lessons have been learned.

If we "defend" like we did yesterday Leigh will rip us to pieces and the game will be over by half time.

I'm so enormously tired of watching our defensive line plod up 2 or 3 steps and then stop and wait for the other team to hit us. It gives their halfback all the time in the world to do whatever they want, and hands all the momentum to any forward charging at us. On the complete other end of the spectrum, we have people shooting up out of the line for the big hit and missing, leaving a massive gap (I'm looking at you Matty Blythe)!

Keep moving up as a line until you meet them, then ram your damn shoulder through their gut. Put them on their backs. Take the momentum with you. SHOW SOME GODDAMN PRIDE IN YOUR DEFENCE.

[/rant

Why does it always come down to a lack of effort rather than a lack of talent? Maybe its just a case of the players Bradford have simply not been good enough. As I said before Bradford have the pick of the worst full time players out there and I think there are a lot better part time players kicking around this league than at least half the Bradford squad. Maybe it is a case that Bradford have a lot of average players who are playing above the level of their part time counterparts simply because they are full time.

I think it's a mix of both. Blythe certainly tries hard, he's just not very good. It was a mistake to play him at centre yesterday because not only is he a liability, but he also took one of our best players (James Clare) completely out of the game by never creating space or passing to him.

It's a lack of effort and desire to not hurry to form a scrum with 15-20 mins on the clock and a couple of score behind. Our attitude and body language wasn't good yesterday.

Anyone looked at the odds for sunday?

Will be Friday at the earliest before any betting is a available.

Expect it to be Leigh -14 on the handicap

I was at Odsal for our capitulation that resulted in a draw & I was at both games last season too, missed Blackpool but watched it live on TV.

Those performances aren't representitive of our season, we raise our game against you. If i've any hope for this game it's that we've won more games away than at Odsal this season!

I fear we'll get stuffed.

Our side right now has too many players who hardly know each others names, let alone how they play. Chances are less than slim, imo.

I disagree Mr Bowen,super smashing

Bradford always seem to raise their game when playing us , and I expect a close game, obviously I expect a Leigh win , but still a very hard close game, I hope it brings a good crowd along.

Luaki not in the squad then?

Maybe, if that's the case, they may stop playing the way you guys have been complaining about?

(i.e. an improvement)

Lol, though to be right, I've been impressed with Lauaki since Smith started - making ground, putting himself around a bit and seems to have more of a spring in his step!