[quote="Pyrah123":3gbk93z0]Personally id say armitage is a much better centre than Gill much safer gill prone to a few brain farts cant afford that in this game… id go Waine for LBB for this one yardage will be crucial[/quote:3gbk93z0] I can sort of see that, but Nobby prefers big forwards. It’s unfair, but if Waine wants in the team, it’s Ebon’s place he’s trying to take and he’s not managed that yet.

Be very surprised if waine isn't on the bench sunday he's a threat and a try scorer and a second row not in competition with scurr.

Gee and Fulton haven't done anything wrong so I'd still start with them. Does Waine get the bench spot ahead of LSS or Michael?

Gee, Fulton & Donno are all starting. The 3 middles on the bench that Waine has to force in front of are Scurr, Pele or Michael. I suppose Michael could be the one to miss out. But it’s unlikely.

I think LBB looks a different player to last season. A full pre-season has done him the world of good. Looks very aggressive so I wouldn't drop him. I wouldn't risk Armitage either. He's missed pre-season, only just come back from a calf injury. To throw him on against a full time team on a glue pot of a pitch would be madness. Gill more than capable. Nice options to have and if any player has the brain fart discipline of last year they can be hooked with an equal replacement.

I assume Gill didn’t have a disciplinary issue with that tackle vs Huddersfield? I haven’t seen anything

Doesn't look like it. The point about discipline is a good one. A lot of teams will try and rile us up this year as it's widely known that we can get put off our game with that kind of thing. It'll be interesting to see how we handle it. I recall Hallas and Souter in particular were targeted by opposition for the wind ups.

Good point. The 2 games that the majority of the first team played in - Doncaster & Huddersfield, discipline was much better. Keighley away & Dewsbury away - basically academy/reserve grade but more penalties and 6 agains.

If your dominating the game up front there should be no excuse for ill discipline. We have a stronger pack this year so that shouldn't be an issue against the teams that try most of the niggle (I'm thinking of Barrow in particular here now Swinton have gone down). I'm looking forward to the Cas game. There'll be no complacency from them so it should be a good test. If we come away with a win it'll be a great achievement. Everyone, including the bookies, has us down as firm favourites but I think Toulouse, Fev and York in particular have a great chance and I can see us losing games against all of them.

[quote="Highlander":2m49891h]Gee, Fulton & Donno are all starting. The 3 middles on the bench that Waine has to force in front of are Scurr, Pele or Michael. I suppose Michael could be the one to miss out. But it’s unlikely.[/quote:2m49891h] Waine isnt a middle though he is a second rower and will make meters for fun which could be invaluble against cas michael has more aggression than LBB and a better offload imo - will be interesting ti see how we go

[quote="Bull Mania":wagww67h]I think LBB looks a different player to last season. A full pre-season has done him the world of good. Looks very aggressive so I wouldn't drop him. I wouldn't risk Armitage either. He's missed pre-season, only just come back from a calf injury. To throw him on against a full time team on a glue pot of a pitch would be madness. Gill more than capable. Nice options to have and if any player has the brain fart discipline of last year they can be hooked with an equal replacement.[/quote:wagww67h] Gill has yet to show hes more than capable the Toulouse playoff game is a prime example

But Armitage hasn't played since last year. Hasn't had a pre-season and the Cas game will likely be the fastest game we'll face all year. It's asking for trouble. Armitage can be eased back in against London where it should be a comfortable day. Gills not exactly a liability.

[quote="Bull Mania":1l1ksg94]But Armitage hasn't played since last year. Hasn't had a pre-season and the Cas game will likely be the fastest game we'll face all year. It's asking for trouble. Armitage can be eased back in against London where it should be a comfortable day. Gills not exactly a liability.[/quote:1l1ksg94] He can be sinbinnings against Toulouse would beg to differ armitage schooled him and myers

[quote="Pyrah123":2jovhf64]Waine isnt a middle though he is a second rower and will make meters for fun which could be invaluble against cas michael has more aggression than LBB and a better offload imo - will be interesting ti see how we go[/quote:2jovhf64] Right. This all comes back to preseason. Waine is a 2nd row, although London played him at prop a fair bit. You put up the suggestion we take out one of our specialist props (LBB) and replace him witha 2nd rower, who can play a bit of prop. I didn’t really follow that. Waine isn’t going to shift Gee or Fulton (yet) and Scurr and Pele are the impact props. So that leaves Michael I suppose so are we looking at Michael as a specialist prop? Or a prop/2nd rower. We’ve only 1 competitive game to look at I suppose. A lot of this is interchangeable these days but I would say we had 5 middles (Bruno, LBB, Scurr, Pele, Michael) and 3 2nd rowers (Fulton, Gee, Donno) in the 17. If Waine is getting in, either we drop a 2nd rower or Nobby has to adjust his ratio of 5:3 for middles & 2nd rower. I think. On a drier track, I think Waine for Michael is a good shout. For this weekend, we keep as it is.

When Nobby picked Michael at loose forward for the friendly vs Keighley and put him on the bench versus Huddersfield and then against Doncaster it showed to me that he likes to have a bit of size on the bench. The Doncaster game was the real telling selection - going with LSS, Pele and Michael on the bench with Lilley. Did anyone ask Nobby to explain that selection? I'm intrigued because Michael is a very different player to Donaldson and Michael came on to play at loose forward. Is Donaldson not fit? Or was it the gameplan to really put pressure on Doncaster down the middle with ever bigger lads coming on? I guess that for games on a small heavy pitch like Odsal it makes sense to have a lot of big lads in the 17. I'm sure Waine could play as an extra prop like Michael if he comes on and plays at no 13. It's whether we want to be sparing with Donaldson or not.

Lawrence can rotate to 13 as well. I suppose you look at what happens with injuries. If a prop is injured, we still have 4 props in the 17. If a 2nd rower is injured, either Lawrence or Michael go to loose. If a centre is injured, Fulton is the obvious cover option. Lilley can play halves & FB

Scurr is the starting prop at the moment with Lawrence so on the bench is 2 props Michael and Pele plus waine LBB to miss out from last week.fantastic impact from the bench that is how I would go .maybe also start Lilley in the halves for this game.

I'd keep Meadows and Keyes together. Having two good kickers of the ball is already showing a massive improvement on last year. Lilley is decent but his kicking game isn't as good as theirs.

[quote="Bullseye":hg01fyvl]I'd keep Meadows and Keyes together. Having two good kickers of the ball is already showing a massive improvement on last year. Lilley is decent but his kicking game isn't as good as theirs.[/quote:hg01fyvl] Id keep meadows and keyes together also meadows n eds time to settle in its a new partnership bonkers we are able to have these debates

Anyone any idea how ticket sales are going? Still yet to get mine.

The early kick off unfortunately made the decision for me - we won't make it for that time.

It'll be interesting to see how much the attendance is affected by the bbc coverage and early kick off. I'll be struggling to get there for 1 o'clock due to existing commitments, but I'll be trying my best. It'd be a real shame if we don't get a decent turn out. Fingers crossed that those that can make it, do make it and bring a few extra quid into the clubs coffers.

https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... urO8jONlbg

https://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/article ... urO8jONlbg

Our strongest possible 21 squad. Not sure I would risk Armitage in such a high stakes game. I would go with the same squad that faced Doncaster with Waine, Liu, Hallas and Armitage missing out.

Bayliss,liu,hallas and gill to miss out would think for me.