Well there's one of those radical ideas smiths bringing from Nrl. Actually having two halves in squad

If they don't improve then they never will.

Crazy stuff. I don't know what he's thinking. It's this sort of manic and far out thinking that can get a bloke committed. Does he not understand that you can't put out a team without a centre or back rower in your halves? What a clown.

Diskin has picked the 17 don't get too giddy yet he's old school Bulls.

Trueman is a real hot prospect.

Plus, he's ready-made for those "The Trueman Show" headlines.

Think we've got a few of those in the academy. I know there's nervousness whether we can keep hold of these stars and inevitably one or two will sign for bigger clubs. But Bastian and Diskin have created a superb culture in the academy where players want to sign for us. I believe we signed all the ones we wanted to from our scholarship and signed a few hot prospects from elsewhere.

Diskin really seems like a coach the young lads respect and want to give their all for. Replacing him will be just as crucial a decision as replacing Lowes was IMHO

Totally agree. Diskin will be hard to replace - as you say the academy has been playing well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Leigh Beattie promoted.

Nice to see West Bowling youngsters coming through and getting a chance. Jacob is a really exciting prospect

I shall be having a pint with his dad tomorrow

Boooooooooo!!

Only joking pal, good to see local lads finally having a path into the first team

Yes it's about time that a young un turned up like that lad from Rhodesway school, I remember him being quite decent!

Not a bad find was he.

25 mins gone and the Bulls are leading 14-0.

Danny Addy and Josh Barlow sent to the sin bin. Scrappy game.

Bulls running away with it now. Bradford leading 38-0.

Bulls hit 50. Gaskell in for another score.

Bradford 50 Swinton 8

Caro grabs a late try as Bradford score on the hooter. Final score 54-8 to the Bulls.

Let the Rohan Smith era begin!

Cheers for the updates - did the two U19 guys play?

Good News.
Added bonus that Fev beat London.

A decent performance this afternoon.

There are still some issues for Smith to work on before we get to the middle-8's mind you.

However, London losing has opened up the race for second place again

Happy with that performance. Thought our defence (apart from a 5 minute lapse where they scored two back to back tries) was spot on. Seemed to take pride in our goal line defence. Attack we looked better, though still plenty to work on. Think Clare has nailed down the full back spot.

Certainly looked better than what we have the last few weeks. Think we are severely lacking in last tackle options but hopefully Smith should sort this. Onto Sheffield.

Much better today. Clare man of match by a mile for me, and Oscar looked much more comfortable and confident. Thought our props dominated. How did that crazy man Barlow stay on the pitch? Unfortunately Williams did it again, coming in from his wing and giving away a try to his opposite number. Looking forward to Sheffield next week.

Suspect this might be more to do with the idiot Blythe playing inside him. I think we need to be looking at signing another centre if we can. Blythe is absolutely useless, Purtell is coming to the end of his career (hopefully) and our academy players might not be ready just yet.

Blythe offers very little and the odd thing is we do have better options so not sure how he's in. Uncalled for "hopefully" re Purtell, though. He's been a rock for us, is a class act, and while his best form is some way off, there's no reason why he can't finish the second half of the season well. But if he doesn't, hoping his career will soon be over isn't good. It nearly was, a couple of years back, and he's not only miraculously come back, but sweated blood in the Bulls cause and been one of our standout players for me. Hence them making him captain.


Very cunning of Olbison to pinch the MoM by nicking the no. 10 shirt, though.