If that is the case and Blythe comes back in at centres, if Mullaney is fit i feel Shaw will be surplus on Sunday regardless of goalkicking ability - i think Sunday at Donny was the poorest ive seen him play

Depends who is fit or whether Lowes prefers Mullaney or Addy at HB. I think he would prefer Mullaney as a straight choice, but due to injuries in the back line and we having plenty of cover in the back row, i think he will go with Addy.. Think with this being such a tough game, Lowes may give Blythe another week. Second game in 7 months and having to face Menzie Yere is a tough ask for anyone. Injury doubts over JPB, Purtell and Mullaney as well.

Mmm, the way we've been defending I'm far from certain we can just ignore goalkicking ability...I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Jimmy goes through the possibilities with Rhino!

Hits? I remember the Eurovision winner: "What's another Yere"

On a different note, Londons team on Sunday will be a bit of Bulls old boys reunion

Yes, and one thing Bradford has done quite well in recent years is populate world RL with some talented players and coaches. Always interesting if you're bored to pick the best available fantasy Bradford side, including both existing and former current players. I mean, you start with the Burgii, Peacock of course, some would still put Leon in there, then you have Atkins & Bridge, Ferres, Kopczak, etc etc etc but there are some interesting selection dilemmas.

Have a look at what you could've won XIII (all had to have played in the Bulls academy)

1. Curtis Naughton
2. ??
3. Ryan Atkins
4. Joe Wardle
5. ??
6. Leon Pryce
7. Chris Bridge
8. George Burgess
9. Keale Carlile
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Brett Ferres
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Sam Burgess
14. John Bateman
15. Larne Patrick
16. Craig Kopczak
17. Tom Burgess

18. Mark Flanagan
19. Oliver Roberts
20. James Donaldson

I'd put one of Purtell, Baile, Uaisele or Walker up against Yere, certianly not Henry anyway. Hopefully Blythe will feature or Walshaw. Shaw to the wing is an option, his goal kicking alone is worth it, if Mullaney were to go to full back. However, even though he does drop a bomb or two occasionally and can cost us points for it, I've been impressed with Shaw enough to keep him at 1 for the rest of the season and bring him into the line more.

You missed off Stuart Reardon and Karl Pryce on the wing



#banter

Funny, according to the media only Leeds, Saints & Wigan can be bothered to produce young players

I'd have Dave Halley on the wing

At first I wondered why you didn't post any whingers but then remembered that they're all on the T&A forum.

Anyhoo, what about Jason Crookes on the wing? Also young Jamie Langley might be worth a spot somewhere?

of players, not what they once were ....or might have become?

Leeds would probably claim that the significant work with the Burgess twins was done there.......We know better.

John Bastian told me letting the twins leave Leeds for us was based on his assessment at the time that they wouldn't develop quite as much as they have done.

He says he doesn't often get it wrong but he did then.

A couple of good articles in the T&A from Mark Aston and Jamie Langley. Reading behind the lines they are looking forward to a possible successful visit to Odsal.

Simply they can if we don't get much better from our underperforming defence. That sorted on the day I would forcast a close win by us.

I suspect they are looking forward to a 'successful visit', I'd expect nothing less from any pro player and coach. Hopefully so are we..

I can't imagine that Matty Blythe will be included but hopefully Purtell, Williams and Mullaney will be. If so, then I would consider us to be clearly capable of the win. I am much more confident of whoever is picked in the forwards. This is likely to be a bit of a challenge as Sheffield are clearly a good team and they may not run out of steam like a few others have done.......... Full 80 minutes performance needed.

I'm going to ruin it all, tempt fate, get egg on my face etc by predicting a Bulls win by 18.

On the back of the Donny defensive debacle, I actually expect us to go well.

I'm beginning to get the feeling this season, that while everyone else makes an extra effort when they face us, we seem to put in an extra effort against teams which we perceive as being challengers to us. Also we are putting extra effort into maintaining "Fortress Odsal" in the league. This is why we have had a few dodgy away wins. If this attitude is real, then we are going to become unstuck at some point.

I do think that our form will improve through the season though.

I do think that our defensive display will be much better on Sunday, at home, vs the 3rd place team for the reasons above. Whilst a nilling is unlikely, I wouldn't be surprised if we kept Sheffield to a single digit scoreline.

I think that after playing Hull Kingston Rovers the week before, the players struggled to get motivated for the Doncaster game. They probably knew in the back of their minds that they could outscore the opposition so didn't really bother concentrating in defence. I wasn't at Doncaster so it's hard for me to judge, but it seemed that way looking at the score-line and having seen the tries on Bulls TV.

I'm hoping we'll be up for the game on Sunday. Sheffield are a good side in this division and the players should hopefully give them a bit more respect than they did at Doncaster, and so our defence should be a bit more solid. I don't think we'll concede 38 again, anyway.

19 man for Sunday
Adam Henry, Adam O’Brien, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Alex Mellor, Dale Ferguson, Dan Fleming, Danny Addy, Danny Williams, Etu Uaisele, Epalahame Lauaki, Jake Mullaney, Jay Pitts, Lee Gaskell, Lucas Walshaw, Paul Clough, Ryan Shaw, Tom Olbison, Vila Halafihi

Bit light on the backs, heavy on the forwards. But I guess that's down to our current fitness situation.

FB: Shaw
W: Uaisele
C: Henry
C: Purtell
W: Williams
SO Gaskell
SH: Mullaney
PR: Sidlow
H: O'Brien
PR: Clough
SR: Olbison
SR: Pitts
LF: Addy

Subs: Ferguson, Lauaki, Fleming, Walshaw

I'd personally prefer to leave Addy at 7, move Shaw to the centres and have Mullaney at fullback. Drop Henry, who's been somewhere between average and awful so far this season.

I also think you have to start Ferguson after his performance last week, even if it means Olbison sitting on the bench.

Perhaps take Shaw out for the weekend and give the kicking duties to Gaskell. I'd maybe give Walshaw a run at centre too.