Yes Naughton has potential and Addy played well.

ben blackmore 20
jack miller 19, (debut)
kruise leeming 17
Nathan mason 20 (debut)
josh Johnson 19
peter aspinall 19
jake connor 18 (debut)
jack blagborough 19 (debut)

some very good potential there.

Lots of potential on display for both clubs. It was a good way to end the season for us given we missed out on the play offs.

I've always thought Naughton had something special, he stood out in the U18s and with a bit more strength will stand out in the 1st team. I like the look of Mellor and Conroy too.

It was a great exhibition for the young guns of RL on both sides. Plenty of debuts and young lads given the chance to get some experience! On the evidence there could be a few of them on both the Bulls and Giants sides pushing for contention in a few seasons.

On a side note I thought it was interesting that the Giants fielded such a changed side, if I was an away supporter paying £20 and travelling to the game I would have been a little disappointed that the Giants had pretty much written off the game but I am glad we took it serious and put them to the sword.

Obviously they took it as an opportunity to rest a few for the playoff push and I honest say good luck to them, I am going to the GF and I honestly hope the Giants make it since it would be a breath of fresh air

Let's not forget about Oliver Roberts too, arguably our best prospect from the academy.

I actually thought that Kear played well in the full-back role when we were attacking, when Naughton shifted to the wing.

Agreed, I'd much rather Kear at FB than Foster.

Was really really impressed with Naughton. Looked good under high ball, ran the ball back strongly and looks to have some real pace.

Kear was everywhere yesterday, he was like a man posessed!
He even tried a kick out of dummy half too I think, although I'm pretty sure FC will be telling him not to bother doing that again

Whilst there was a lot of potential the problem we have as one of the clubs no longer in contention for trophies is how do we hold onto these players. A couple of years ago we'd have been talking about the potential of our youngsters called Kopczak and Whitehead

I think for most young players - even those with slimey agents - the key thing for them is to get game time, and with our smaller squad this is one thing we can offer at the Bulls. Also it is important for the fans to give these guys time to develop, yes they will have some off games but the should be judged over the season and by the willingness to work and learn.

As for Mr Kopczak and Whitehead - I think their recent actions show where their real potential lay?

I agree that there were some standout displays from our young lads, and Naughton and Mellor look standout prospects to me.

For next year, I'm so glad we signed up Addy. He has played I think every game and has been one that has never let us down, and seems to have grow into the team and improved all year. 6 months down the track he'll be bigger and better.

We can't replace Lulia. he is a gem of a centre. Hi started this season very slow but in the back end he has been back to his best, and when he is, the opposition just can't handle him. Too big, too fast, too strong and too wick. Losing him is a major blow.

The key to it all will be 6 and 7. What do people think now? On this occasion, obviously we were on the front foot, and so it is a damn sight easier to play half back, but (as I recall saying in the early season) when Sammut plays like that, in that frame of mind, you'd have to be mad to suggest there's anyone better in teh squad. Can Gaskell displace him? A fired-up Sammutt must scare opponents to death, plsu doesn't he get some good tackles in as well. It was like a statement to FC "Drop me for Gaskell if you dare".

Again, Gale was playing in a team that was dominating, but still he showed plenty of the sheer class that he possesses. His superb cutout pass made the first try; peach of a short pass put Addy through; for the Foster try Gale's 2 man cutout pass to Sammutt in space; another fizzer for theSammutt hat trick; long cut out pass to Foster in space creating yet another try from Fosters canny kick. Gale actually took took the ball to theright of our posts of posts but had already weighed up the options on the left, and was sprinting that way when taking the ball, and created the situation with a 25 yard pass over the top. I don't see how people can't see he has the vision, and the ability to create a gap, slip a short sweet pass, throw a long pass, and then there is his fine kicking game. We'll be OK wtih Gale.

The only question to me is, who will start at 6? At the moment, Sammut takes some shifting. Who's got a player as good as him? Not many.

We already know that Sammut can be a real match winner and when he is on fire he is as good as ANY stand off in SL. Getting him to perform to that level consistently or at least at a level where he isn't a liability is what stops he being a really top quality player. I'm certainly not knocking the guy because without him in the squad this year we would probably have lost a few games this year.

But if Gaskell slots in well and plays pretty consistently and to the plan that FC has asked then Sammut might have a fight on his hands. Great news for us if players are willing to fight for a spot though, it's what we have lacked this year.

I don't think we can drop Sammut. OK he's can be inconsistent, but he has scored 21 tries in 23 appearances this year. As a team we have scored 101 tries this year, so if we take someone who has scored 1/5 of our tries this year, how are we going to improve?

I was more interested in the younger players performances yesterday. The performances of the more senior players didn't really concern me as we were playing against such a weakend team. Yes Addy ran like a man possessed yesterday and was very strong all game, thats not been his problem this year, his problem has been his defence. Gale showed some nice touches, but again most fans know he can show nice touches, his problem has been consistency and not having the ability to close a game down.

Super League try-scorers 2013
1. Josh Charnley (Wigan) 30
2. Joel Monaghan (Warrington) 23
3. Sam Tomkins (Wigan) 23
4. Jarrod Sammut (Bradford) 22

Drop him? Nah.

On a side note I thought it was interesting that the Giants fielded such a changed side, if I was an away supporter paying £20 and travelling to the game...

I'm sure Ken paid for all 5 of them...

I remember Northern getting fined heavily for fielding a weakened side prior to a Cup match.
Huddersfield's selections no different,bringing the game into disrepute IMO.

Re Sammut,good when he's not under pressure,but could he pull a game out of the hat against a Leeds or St Helens?Not sure.

If you take out the 4 he scored last night against a B Team and the 4 he scored against a poor London side and the fact that he didn't score any tries against Leeds,St Helens,Catalans or Warrington,then you get a bit closer to what he's actually achieved against tougher opposition.
Not saying he hasn't got ability,but I would like to see him do it when his life depends on it against Quality opposition.

Sky Sports commentators mentioned last night that the club has started talks to extend Luke Gale's contract. I think he already has 2 years left, but they are looking at providing a 'long term' deal.

Good. If the club has any sense they will be looking to do the same with other key positions in our side. Gale might have his critics, but SL is seriously lacking in the creative halves department right now. Gale may not be the best around, but he's still young, British and shows enough (for me) to warrant an extension to his contract.

I'm not Gales biggest fan but he has had some very good games. I think him settling into a partnership with sammut is key, because since they've both been brought in neither have actually played that much ball together. Addy again showed just how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands, and lets be honest, he has really done it all season. His versatility is very nice to have in the side, but he is clearly a back row forward. I can't see him being called upon much to play 6 or 7 next season unless absolutely necessary, which will also be good for him. The backrow we have for next season is certainly pretty potent, with a nice mixture of athleticism, aggression and skill. I'd go for 11 Ferguson, 12 Bateman and 13 Addy. Scruton, Heath and Carvell and IMHO, that's the best pack we have had for a few seasons.

Yep a great achievement and as I said he has won matches for us this year but he will have to fight for his spot like anyone else. Gaskell hasn't done so bad this year either in really poor side he's scored 11 tries and put in 5 MoM performances. But you cannot compare who will be the best option for the team on try scoring alone.

To say Sammut is above being dropped is ridiculous. Hopefully the addition of Gaskell will focus Sammut into an even better season and perhaps on a more consistent basis.

I think Gaskell might end up playing in the centres more than he does in the halves. Unless we announce a new signing who is an out and out centre.

To clarify I didn't say he is "above" being dropped, that's ridiculous, nobody is. In fact he was dropped just the other week, I had no issue with it. What I am saying is you can't drop him when he's on this form. He deserves to be the starter next year.

Had to laugh at picking fault - yes he might be about second top scorer in the comp, in a poor side, but he scored a lot against duffers! Aye, and Charnley scored all his against Warrington and Hudds didn't he!

One interesting thing for the future, looking at the bulls v shudds game, (bulls v young giants as it has been reported) is the average age of the two 17's on sat. (Ages from sl website and clubs, couple might be slightly out due to months since the data was entered at the season start but I reckon that'll be the same for both teams)

Giants ave age = 22
Bulls ave age = 23.

It was hardly men against boys in terms age for the whole 17, but it was in terms of experience, a lot of our younger players are already established first team players like addy, Donaldson and olibson. im very encouraged by the quality of our younger players, those already established in the first team and the ones looking to get in the first team next year.

The future should be brighter than our recent past IMHO.

Sammut is by far our best player,when he's on his game. I think the key thing is, when our packs on top and we get some quick play the balls and get on a roll then Sammut gets the time and space to do what he does best. When he gets a bit of space he's got so much class and pace that you always feel he's going to create a chance. Yes it may not come off every time, but he is exciting and a player people want to watch.

I back him to do even better next year if our forwards can hold their own with some of the bigger packs. The additions of Carvell and Ferguson, combined with the extra experience and battle hardening of our younger players will give Sammut what he needs.

Could anyone see a fully fit squad with Kearney at FB, Gale at SH, Sammut at SO and Gaskell at LF? Given the success Leeds have switching between Sinfield, Maguire and Burrow I don't see why this would be a major issue. We'd have a super strong bench to play with too.