Sheffield should just have enough to sneak this one.

Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles preview - https://eaglehoop97.wordpress.com/2015/ ... ulls-away/ The 'key battle' is between the half-backs but wasn't sure who would be picked in that area of the field for Bradford so I second guessed at Gaskell (obvious!) and Addy as they both did a good job last time around!

Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles preview - https://eaglehoop97.wordpress.com/2015/ ... ulls-away/ The 'key battle' is between the half-backs but wasn't sure who would be picked in that area of the field for Bradford so I second guessed at Gaskell (obvious!) and Addy as they both did a good job last time around!

I don't understand the stick that Shaw gets. I've been to 10 games this season and only seen him have 2 poor games. Add to that he is by far our best kicker, something that could make the difference between victory and defeat in some of our upcoming games.

Quote ="DannytheEagle"Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles preview - https://eaglehoop97.wordpress.com/2015/ ... ulls-away/ The 'key battle' is between the half-backs but wasn't sure who would be picked in that area of the field for Bradford so I second guessed at Gaskell (obvious!) and Addy as they both did a good job last time around!'" Be a bit surprised if addy is at half. Sjelka has been out injured both times we've played Sheffield this yr and Mullaney missed last one too. Expect one of those to be lining up alongside gaskell at weekend.

Quote ="DannytheEagle"Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles preview - https://eaglehoop97.wordpress.com/2015/ ... ulls-away/ The 'key battle' is between the half-backs but wasn't sure who would be picked in that area of the field for Bradford so I second guessed at Gaskell (obvious!) and Addy as they both did a good job last time around!'" Be a bit surprised if addy is at half. Sjelka has been out injured both times we've played Sheffield this yr and Mullaney missed last one too. Expect one of those to be lining up alongside gaskell at weekend.

Siejka has been asked to do a job this season (from comments Jimmy has made after matches) and that is to be the organiser, nothing too flashy, and try to pass to Gaskell in a bit of space. And he's basically done that.

I'm not too sure if he does have other skills in his locker, but Addy can do those things as well. Mullaney would seem to offer a bit more at 7 though.

I'm thinking I would want Mullaney at FB though. So that leaves us with Addy or Siejka partnering Gaskell.

I still have a feeling that Siejka could do a decent job for us. If he does see that he may be off at the end of the season then he will want to show other clubs he is worth a deal. Two "flashy" halves don't always work. Deac's was a good partner to the flashy Robbie. Mullaney is a better full back but that hamstring could go again at any minute - but nobody will ever be as safe as Sir Mumby to me.
We need a good convincing win on Sunday. Scraping through will not do my confidence any good. Saying we will perform when it matters has now arrived.

Shaw's had his problems with tackling and catching the ball on occasion, though he's far from the only one, it must be said.

Not sure he's, "by far", our best kicker though, he may be being chosen over Danny Addy but Danny is also a fine kicker and very little behind. I certainly wouldn't have any qualms if Addy were our goalkicker. He's kicked 15 in the three games he's been used and looked very competent, imo.

The kicker has to play the full 80mins though and I'm not sure that Addy is good enough to do that. I see him more as an interchange player.

Disagree on that one mate.

I accept players do, 'play to instructions', so maybe he is sometimes being told to put in 'big minutes' and then being replaced, I dunno, to be fair, but he can, and has played the full eighty on many occasions, particularly when in his 'proper' position, in the pack and at the increased pace of SL level too. With the emphasis on reducing the number of interchanges this is only likely to increase imo, since, no doubt, we'll follow the Aussies on this.

Today's t&a article confirms no Siejka for Sunday's game. What a shame.

It also shows it is pointless trying to read press articles/releases especially around injured players, seen as though Gaskell, Siejka and Jake were all fully fit 3 weeks ago!!

Think it's time to forget about Siejka. After such a long lay off, it will take him a few games to settle back in and get back into the swing of things. These next 7 games are all going to be at a huge intensity and we can't have players easing back in.

Surely, assuming he[i is[/i going to be properly fit, easing back in is easier than coming in as a new player? Surely you're not suggesting we don't play any new players?

No. Sijeka's not played for months. All the other new players have been playing. Also Siejka plays in a far more important position than Neilsen, Caro, Clare etc they're jobs are much simpler. Siejka has to control the rest of the team and create for them. Also when he did play, he didn't set the world a light. He just did ok. He wasn't crucial to us like Gaskell. If he played better in those opening games, I'd let him play, but he didn't do enough to convince me to now play him in high intensity games, when he's also not played for months.

Reading the article, it seems more like he's agravated the injury in training.

19 Man squad: Adam Henry, Adam O’Brien, Adam Sidlow, Adrian Purtell, Dale Ferguson, Danny Addy, Danny Williams, Epalahame Lauaki, James Clare, James Mendeika, Jay Pitts, Jake Mullaney, Lee Gaskell, Matt Ryan, Matty Blythe, Omari Caro, Paul Clough, Steve Crossley, Tom Olbison.

For me:

1. James Mendieka
2. James Clare
3. Adam Henry
4. Adrian Purtell
5. Danny Williams
6. Lee Gaskell
7. Jake Mullaney
8. Paul Clough
9. Adam O'Brien
10. Adam Sidlow
11. Tom Olbison
12. Jay Pitts
13. Danny Addy

14. Dale Ferguson
15. Epalahame Lauaki
16. Steve Crossley
17. Matty Blythe

Caro & Ryan to miss out for me

I'd go with....

James Mendeika
James Clare/Omari Caro
Adrian Purtell
Matty Blythe
Danny Williams
Lee Gaskell
Jake Mullaney
Paul Clough
Adam O’Brien
Adam Sidlow
Jay Pitts
Tom Olbison
Danny Addy

Epalahame Lauaki
Steve Crossley
Dale Ferguson
Matt Ryan

Adam Henry and either James Clare/Omari Caro to miss out for me.

Personally, I'd have liked to have seen Shaw in the squad at FB rather than Mendeika and I'm yet to be convinced by Steve Crossley. Samir out on loan and unlikely to be back at the club anytime soon but think he's a much better option than Crossley!!!

I think we'll line up like this:

Mendieka
Caro
Henry
Purtell
Clare
Gaskell
Mullaney
Clough
AoB
Sidlow
Olbison
Pitts
Addy

Crossley
Lauaki
Ferguson
Ryan

Blythe and Williams not used. Ross from the t&a seems to think Ryan will make his debut, I'm inclined to agree. Harsh on Williams but I see this as more of an opportunity to see what Clare can do. We already know Williams is solid and reliable, but the Fax game didn't really provide James with much of a platform to make an imprint on the game.

I would leave Henry out and can't decide who else. I would definitely have Williams in so I guess it would be Clare to miss out but I can't really decide, it's a tricky one

But it does look a pretty strong squad

Agreed, probably strongest squad we've had all year. Think some pundits have been too quick to write us off.

It might seem wishful thinking, but certain comments that have come out of Odsal all season sort of suggest that we've viewed the first 23 rounds as a slightly higher intensity pre-season. It seems the plan was get top 2 and once achieved start planning for the Middle 8's. Hopefully we come out Sunday all guns blazing

I'd be tempted play Ryan and rest Olbison as he's played last few games. No second hooker in squad so we've a bench spot for a 2nd /2nd row which I'd give to blythe. Henry and Purtell both to start and basically their playing for their spot as nielsens likely to displace one of them next week. Give Clare another go as we already know what Williams can do and Clare needs the game time more.

Don't think Olbison will need a rest, he had last week to recover. Also he had a week off against Sheffield i think? Agreed about Henry and Purtell fighting it out for the centre spot. Cannot underestimate Sheffield. We need a convincing win to go to Wakey with some momentum. Another scrappy, just doing enough performance won't be good enough IMO.