Finnegan and Donaldson don't seem to be on that injury list.

Well seeing we have Saints away next up this is a MUST WIN game for me or we are in big trouble even though its early days...Then we have Quins (just turned Saints over) at home, Hull FC (starting to find some form) away, and Salford away (we usually slip up there!)

That means we could be going into Easter well out of it unless we win at least 3 of the games mentioned above.

Cas, Quins and Salford are MUST WIN games IMO.

Donaldson's return to the first team is imminent, and he has featured in the last two U20 games. I wouldn't class him as injured at the moment.
Finnigan is a Sheffield player at the moment, and thus will be left off the list.

Pre-season I would have taken Bulls by >12. Now it is fairly even. Apart from the Hudds game, which was the most complete performance I have seen for years in SL from Cas, they haven't beaten anyone they shouldn't really have. But what they do now have is confidence & a belief they can come back when 2 scores behind. Something I'm not sure Bulls do. That could be the difference.

Sunday will be a hard test for the Bulls.

Another re-jig of the back line due to the loss of Raynor.

I'd imagine it'll be Royston returning to full back, with Sykes moving to left centre.

However, perhaps moving Royston to left centre with Sykes at FB might be a better option, as Royston's defence might help out Ah Van.

I'd not consider breaking up Platt and Ainy as they're settling in to a good partnership down the right hand side.

Massive improvement is needed following last week's performance. But that's not something that I think needs drumming into the team. They know they didn't perform, the coaches know it and the fans know it. Best to draw a line under it and get back on the horse. Worse thing the team can do is focus on that failure as that doesn't help anyone.

Langley injury unditermined yet again. What is going on, why cant a diognosis on the extent be made early on? he's been out a bloody month yet they are only now sending him to see a specialist.

Nope. He's going back to see his specialist again as recuperation is taking longer than expected. Was mentioned in his column in t&a at weekend. Also aaron's blog has walker as 4 weeks away when potter said 2 weeks for him and briggs in the prematch interview before hudds game.

o right. Need to sort it out anyway, he was only a week away last week.

true but that was ahead of schedule from the original 6 weeks. sounds like he's had a set back but is still on target for original timescale.

How does it when the extent of his injury still hasnt been determined?

He was getting better, then he stopped getting better now they are finding out why he stopped getting better. Medicine isn't an exact science.

I always thought that when someone went down with an injury, if you x-rayed it, it had a date stamp on there that stated the exact day you would be ok again.

You learn something new every day.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham)

Bradford under Robert Hicks:

P2 W2 D0 L0 F78 A46

Bradford 38-28 Wakefield
Bradford 40-18 Wakefield

Hicks wasn't bad at all in the game against Wakey, hopefully the score will be the same though LOL

I think the Bulls will beat Cas this week. I know they pipped us at Cas in Rd2, but the Giants were absolute crap that night. And Catalan could have beaten them with a bit more composure last week.

If Scruton continues his slow start to the campaign and we get dominated in the forwards again, I'd like to see Burgess in the 19 to add size to our pack.

I'm going for a Bulls win TBH, Cas not been away from home yet bar mm, Bulls will want to improve on last week, Bulls by 10

Yeah, I agree it's pretty even looking down the squads. Cas probably will have more confidence, in fact it would be strange if they didn't, but I suspect there will be a bit more resolve from the Bulls (actually I suspect the coach will have demanded it), and with luck, from our POV, it won't be necessary to come back from two scores down, though I confess there is s certain amount of wishing and hoping in my expectation of the points.

No chance against Castleford unless the defence is tightened up. Last week there appeared to be no cohesion, no passion, and no game plan. Problem that I see is that to start with we do not have a good defensive fullback,Sykes ,Kearney, Royston, Halley are not good defensively. Come back Keith Mumby!. I suggest the powers to be at Odsal and any one else interested to watch Featherstone's Ian Hardman in next week's televised match against Halifax. Last year he was the best defensive fullback in that division by a country mile.
I am not too sure about the captaincy. Although Lynch is a good player, he does seem to have the power to inspire. Elima was the French captain, why not give him the chance?
Finally Ah van is not a bad tackler, it is just that he is too slow to get into a position to make the tackle. Oh, and another experienced halfback such as Handforth at Batley would be not a bad idea.
All comments welcome. John.

a full back should not be required to make tackles IMO.

70% say Castleford

I think he needs a week on the sidelines while Burgess is given a go. He must be ready for the first grade now?

Hardman is not a SL player. He showed that at Saints.

The fullback is the last line of defence. It is like saying a goalkeeper does not need to make saves. A good defensive fullback or goalkeeper instils confidence that if the line is breached, there will be someone who can be relied on to save the situation.
Another example was Platt in his last year at Castleford. The best attacking fullback in the game they were saying. What they were not saying was he was the worst defensively. Castleford had the most points against and were relegated.
I just hope none of the Odsal coaches think the same as you.

When Hardman was at Saints he was only a teenager. I still think he would make the transition. Watch the match next week and then let me have your comments. By the way he is still only 25.