Plenty to work on still.

We seem to look decent, get a head and then almost try to defend that lead (like a football team trying to defend a 1-0 lead) then just go through the motions and if a try happens, bonus. Don't seem to try go for the killer try.

Danny Brough just looks quality at this level.
Think Ant Walker has done enough to earn a contract.

Thanks for the updates. Couldn't watch today.

could have been a sneaky Cougars win at the end ... sounds/wrote like we controlled the game from the off but then got into an arm wrestle. watchers, how did it go???

you're welcome

... just an avid fan trying to their fix. (with beer will type haha)

all for game management but if that's going to be our attitude this season expect heart attacks

Champions of Bradford!

Another strange game in my opinion. We started really well and went a couple of scores in front and then went through the motions for the remainder of the game. I felt some of our final play options were poor but that will hopefully improve over time. I'm putting our rustiness down to inactivity and lack of match practice. Danny Brough ran the attack and looks very smart and sharp when attacking the line. The other members of the team will hopefully step up to that level and we will score some good attacking tries this year.

On the defensive side, I felt there was some very lazy defending for the Cougars final try which made the last 5 minutes tense but we hung on for the win. The defensive lapses will need to improve massively as we prepare for our Challenge Cup game against the Rovers next week. No doubt Mr Chisholm will have a blinder.

The only negative was the nasty looking injury. Any news on Alix Stephenson?

Dislocated ankle

Think theres a decent team in there somewhere.A real mixture today which is probably due to new faces,rustiness,conditions not great etc etc.Broughy showed up well again but for the 2nd week running we seemed completely clueless in attack when he wasnt on the field which must be a worry if he picks up an injury in our early games.

Kear didn't sound happy at all in his post match interview.

Brad England looks a real pickup and Fleming made a real impact as for Scurr we are used to his performances by now

After that performance I fear the worst for next week. Apart from Brough, England, Fleming, Walker and Scurr we were very poor. Only Brough has the ability to create anything from half back so our attack in opposition 20 is dire. Could be 30-50 drubbing next week.

Only thing to hope mate last year we beat them by 6 the year before by a point, these are never 50 point wins maybe it will be better with a more settled 17 and players playing in there correct position? I must may I’d be tempted to play Sanderson before Brown I don’t know what everyone else thinks? And maybe race as the other half as he will be fit for Featherstone as Jowitt for me looked out of his depth there maybe because he is really a fullback

I agree lets get Sanderson more infield. I think the only passes he got yesterday was when he came infield looking for work. Would like to see him running the ball out from full back if we move Pick to half back.

The complacency and lack of humility that Kear referred to is a worry. Drubbing incoming vs Fev unless that is addressed.

The last 2 times weve played them at their place they have hammered us 42 - 4 and 44 - 18 so it wasnt far off.

Reliance on a 38 year old staying fit isn't great.

Reliance on anyone being fit isn't ideal. Lee Gaskell at 25 should have been peak fitness but was constantly out injured for us

Brough has being relatively fit throughout his career to be fair. But if he was to get a long term injury it would be massive for us.

I'm glad Kear picked up on that. I've said a few times how much I enjoyed the beginning of last year because whilst we weren't the best, we looked like a hungry team willing to work their nads off their team mates. Yesterday we just went through the motions.

On the plus side, no injuries. Considering both our opponents have each suffered long-term injuries to players, that's at least one positive for us.

Lots to rectify but that's what friendlies are for. Need to find solutions to those issues now. As someone said earlier I think theres a decent team in there, but we're not good enough to go through the motions and then just turn it on.

Oh are you referring to the trial games like I was?

Agreed. I dont think its realistic to expect a 38 year old to play every game and i suspect me may see his workoad 'managed' through out the year.
I remember Jake Webster not being selected when we played on the 4g pitches so i wonder if Kear will apply the same to DB. Might not see him feature at London, Newcastle or Widnes

Sounds stupid but I hope not. Those three games are against teams I expect will be in and around us. Those games could be the difference between finishing 4th or 6th?

Oh i completely agree. Im just speculating based on past events. I just cant see a way a 38 year old plays every game.

Unless we get another half in then he will have too. For me Jowitt and Race are not ready for Championship level. When Milnes came through there was something about the way he played that made you think ‘this guy will be able to do it’ but with the other two I just can’t see it. Having a year off won’t help their development either though in all fairness.

I dunno I personally think Race is ready judging by his performances at reserve grade though yes Ino there is a difference between champ and reserves

We've not really impressed in either of the pre-season games, but I'm not too fussed to be honest.

There have plenty of times when we've had a great pre-season and then fallen on our backsides at the first real game and, also plenty of just the opposite. Maybe this is one of the others?