Evans was one of the most consistent and reliable players we had last year. Unfortunately we have now become the definition of mediocrity, which is apparently required when you're building for the future, and therefore it is extremely unlikely that we'll get a decent halfback, hooker and centre. If Evans were available I'd welcome him back, I still have fond memories of his last minute try in the centenary game against Leeds.

That is true, but he still doesnt provide the strike we need

Evans was just another dull signing like most of Steve McNamaras others. Signings of this type are fine for back up, not when you're serious about mounting a title challenge though.

Well like I say, he's not international class but he was a good performer during his time here. I'd settle for a Mr Consistent like Evans right now.

IMO if Sykes was working with a strong defensive coach a lot of the problem he has would have been fixed. But unfortunatly our current coaching team seem to be unable to fix the problem. That's why I don't hold out any hope of them helping Crookes.

Settling for mediocrity, that's just it with us isn't it over the past few years.
It's running from the very top of the club right through to the fans.

And yet you're a fan of a very inconsistent Newton, bizarre logic you have sometimes.

But Newton isn't inconsistent. God knows which games you watch. Obviously not many featuring the Bulls though.

Don't miss many, I suggest you watch the players rather than look out for the 'star' name.

This is why we need the productive junior system so much, we need to fill a SL squad with enough quality and experience to compete, spliting a finite cap amoungst our first team squad made up mainly of players brought in, often older/more experienced players who command a certain level of wage, or "signings of this type" as you put it.

Whereas someone like Leeds for example can put youngsters like Hall on the wing and he's got the quailty to be top try scorer and he's taking up cap space possibly half that of Sheriffe (likely to change when they upgrade his youngsters contract mind!) Spending less on home grown players like Hall and others to fill out the first team squad allows them to spend more on their marque signings and so the squad as a whole looks to be better value for the cap money as the quality of players like Hall dosent match the cap allocated, the same can be said for other teams with productive youth systems - Saints and wigan are also good at this, which is why ours needs (and seems to be getting) serious attention, but not to the extreme detriment of the first team.

With all that unasked for rant out of the way, I'd still take Evans next year with Nero whilst we develop our own talent, and I suspect he would be available too.

:dhq8xs9t

You suggest I watch the players?
What game were you watching yesterday afternoon to think Newton played poor?

Anyway, I do, that's why I notice/d how big of a possitive impact Terry Newton makes to the Bradford Bulls. That's why yesterday I noticed in the 15 minutes after half time when he was on the bench the Bulls went to rat , that's why I noticed when he came back on again we started to play again, that's why I noticed the two tries he created, Thats why I notice he talks to the players alongside him all game, thats why I notice he never stops tackling and working, thats why I notice we go forward when he's on the field and that's why I don't come up with statements like "Newton was poor." and "all he offers is flat passes" despite him being anything but poor and offering a whole lot more than flat passes.

There's a reason Terry Newton has a star name and the status in the game that he does, and it's because he is a consistently good performer and not very inconsistent and very poor as you suggest.

If Newton was to pick up a long term injury tommorow then you would see how costley it would be to Bulls and instead of only just losing games despite being in with a fight, it would be hopelesly losing games and rolling over.

You really need to have another look at what Newton offers us mate, because your opinion of him now is seriously wide of the mark.

We can always rely on mediocre Rinaldi though eh?

I agree, you only have to look at whats happened to the team in the last few weeks when he's gone off the field. Lost all direction, and totally lack a leader!

He needs resigning urgently IMO.

Nah, he's poor and only offers flat passes these days.

You mean some one like Eddie kilroy who always used to get the better of Hall in the U21's/reserves but is kept in the reserves and is now being used as a second rower.

yeah that would fit the bill....

we've got to get the kids playing more this year now to see if they can help the squad next year, once the season is officially a write off (if its not already) get more than one involved on each game day and make it clear to them that its a no lose situation and show what they can do.

I feel a bit cheap doing that now. I shouldn't have done it and I apoligise to Bully.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of witt, I should have known better.

The same one that many other fans did who also felt he was poor. The same Newton who no longer seems able to run with the ball, throws out a ridiculous pass for an intercept that was a massive turning point in the game. Bombed a try scoring opportunity in the first half from the break and bombed another great chance with a poor pass in the 1st half with the Cas line stretched. The same Newton who still looks unfit and carrying excess weight and with that his pace all but gone. That's why he IS inconsistent, he can create tries like he did on Sun but also he can do something stupid that will cost of a game.. like he did on Sun.
I have no axe to grind with Terry he's been a reasonable signing for us but the last couple of years he hasn't been the same international quality hooker we originally signed.


What status is this? I doubt he would be in many peoples top 6 hookers in SL if you surveyed fans from other clubs.


Indeed we probably would, because I don't particularly rate Godwin very highly and he's certainly more of an impact type hooker (without ever making much might I add). But he isn't irreplaceable to the team and I wouldn't break the bank to keep him at the club.


Well you're entitled to your opinion, but I've not missed more than a couple of games in the last 2 seasons and he hasn't been the same player we originally signed. He may do a job for us for another year and I'd prefer him to Obst or similar but he's certainly far from irreplaceable.

And I must admit his attitude grates on me a little at times. He seems to enjoy the plaudits in victory but is first down the tunnel after a defeat without coming over to applaud the travelling support..

Well they also need to take another look at the positives he provides us with. The same Terry Newton that no longer seems to be able to run with the ball, I'm not sure what you are getting at here? TN is second only to Randall in running the ball from dummy half, a long way in front of anybody else. Yes, Ive said it was a bad pass, but it wasn't a massive turning point in the game, the massive turning point in the game came when they decided they wern't going to tackle and concede all those points, when Newton wasnt on. Bombed a try scoring oppurtunity in the first half, you mean when Nero passed it to him after he'd backed him up from 40 yards? What was he meant to do, pass it to nobody on his right?
Mate youve got to realise that it wasn't the interception that cost us the game, it might seem like it to you but our inability to give Cas 24 unanswered points in 15 minutes at the start of the 2nd half was what cost us the lead and indeed the game.

Of course he wouldn't, but thats because people cant see beyond his old tactics, i'm sure if you were to ask the current and ex coaches and players, they would gladly reminded you of the high status Terry Newton has achieved as a Super League hooker.

Unfortunately for Newton, hookers have evolved somewhat in recent years. He now has the 'appearance' of a prop forward whereas hookers are becoming more nimble and agile. Look at Randall, Roby, McIlorum. I think Rinaldi does a great job from dummy half, and whilst Newton has his moments of magic, they're few and far between.

Not sure how you can say the intercept wasn't a big turning point. If I remember correctly the scores were 34 all and we had the ascendancy. It was a nonsense pass and it proved very costly, obviously it wasn't the only reason we lost but it was a big play in the match.

Like I say, I rate Newton as a decent hooker but he isn't international class and he is replaceable. It seems fairly certain he is moving on, so it will be interesting to see who comes in to replace him.

A very poor example of coaching though. They leave him on there all match. Think how good he'd be if he had two seasons experience of playing 4 mins every 6 or 7 games.

Leeds definately need to pay more attention to the way we approach first team affairs and bringing through the kids. The sooner they are more like us the better I say.

Leeds are also much more sucessful at developing backs than we are. Our best young players are forwards. They havent fully developed yet. Its fairly clear watching the likes of Whitehead and Donaldson that they've stiull got a lot of growing to do.

A promising young winger can be given 80mins game time without the worry of burning them out or exposing their weaknesses too easily. Cant do the same as easily with a forward.

I don't what it is, but alot of the youngsters we bring through just seem to slot in. Myabe because we have a good stable team it's easier for them to come through.

But we didn't exactly have that when burrow sinfield and the like came in.

Hall made his debut in 07, he had a decent run last season including a grand final and now he's top try scorer.

Lee smith made his debut in 2005 made some mistakes against your truly when you beat is at headingly.

Fast forward 2 seasons and he's MOM in the grand final.

At leeds young players make their debut, then they play abit more regular............and then they become quality.

See kalum watkins, he only recently started to play in the first team. Watch what happens with him in 2 seasons.

Don't know why it is, it just is.