[url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/4313/SYKES%20IN%20CONTRACT%20EXTENSIONone year[/url

WHY?!?!?!?

What the hell are our coaching staff seeing that the rest of us aren't?

You're the only frigger that is!

Read the article but it doesn't say whether it is single or two storey extension.

Pah. There was I thinking it was his hair.

1 try every other game isn't bad but the defensive deficiencies probably contribute to more lost tries so that's a net negative. Either he and Sherrife need to tighten up that side considerably or it needs swapping around.

I'd guess 2 major factors in this are that he can cover a few positions and he's home grown. Hopefully with it being only a single year he'll have to work on his game to prove he's worth another deal especially if Crookes, once fit, pushes on and pressures him for a place.

Yeah but under those criteria, I should be signed to a contract. I can play more than one position (albeit incredibly badly) and I would class as home grown.

I agree that they are the reasons. But if a player just isn't good enough, then those reasons shouldn't be enough.

Incidentally, what this signing does scream to me is, we're not signing another centre.

It looks like we've failed to find a decent centre to replace Sykes, so have been left with the choice of having Sykes or even less cover next year.

Don't expect any centres coming in next year.

Unless Sykes is going to be switched to SO with Jeffries to SH

That would mean dropping Deacon. Which is quite clearly never ever going to happen.

Hmmm

Or the coaching staff feel that Crookes can make the grade. I know stranger things have happened but maybe they have confidence in him

And maybe I'm going to win the Euromillions on Friday.

Or we've already written next year off as well.

At least it will keep the people who operate the scoreboard in a job for another season.

SM on PS

So that's why...


Read between the lines here


Not much else he can say.


Hmm.

Platt, Godwin, Sykes........

Why have these guys been handed extensions?

Simple question.

Cheap. British. Available. Simple answer.

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

I thought monkeys liked bananas?

In that case it all makes sense.

I think its exactly that, coupled with him being; available, demanding a relatively low level of cap space, wanting to be here, versatile, decent on attack, quota positives, back up kicker etc. Im pretty certain that we went into this season with 3 in the coaches mind, Nero, Sykes, Crookes, with Menzies able to cover it if needed as a 4th. It will be the same plan next year. Sykes and Nero, whilst not perfect is not terrible, and hopefully Crookes steps up the competition and they improve as a whole.

IMO was never our priority for next season, it would have been nice to sign a world class strike obviously, but its far far more important to sort out the 6/7/9 issue first. If we dont get real improvement at 6/7/9 (9 assuming Newton is off or stays and contiues to slow up) then it wont matter who is standing at 3 and 4 we'll still be terrible.

If this means we are focusing our recruitment and improvement in the halfs then its a good resigning in terms of cap space spent. If we resign the likes of Sykes but still go with a variation of Deacon/BJ and a player worse than Newton with Godwin as rotating 9 then its not good business overall. So I'll wait and see the whole recruitment picture before I pass final judgement on this I reckon.

Although I agree with what you're saying, I don't think we needed a world class centre. We just needed someone who was decent enough to not let every single player who goes anywhere near him, go past him.

We don't need a world class centre. We need a good enough one. Sykes isn't imo.

Our backs need improving in a number of areas.

Halley - improving but still raw.
Sheriffe - not very good at all.
Nero - Solid enough.
Sykes - defensively useless
Semi - our most potent strike player but erratic at times
Deacon - slow and a "has-been"
Jeffries - good on his day but lacks consistency.

I agree that 6,7 and 9 are very important but we needed a centre at the start of this season and therefore it is more important for next IMO.

Obviously though, there is the Crookes factor. The poor lad missing most of the season is a big blow for him and IF he fits the bill then we may well be able to take our chances in the Centre area, especially as Menzies (assuming he re-signs) could be used in this area if needs be.

As much as some people may want to argue (and it is all about opinions and this is just mine) but we are now at the stage when Semi Tadulala is perhaps our best back and that is worrying when you consider the likes of those who have graced our backs in the last few seasons. As hard as Semi tries, he may have been picked to clean big Les' or TV's boots but he would certainly never have filled them.

A major rebuilding is needed.

I know where your coming from and I partly agree, I probably wouldn't have resigned him if a better alternative was available - I might even have gone and got someone like Evens back for one year and put all my effort into making sure Crookes or another youth product is ready to step up to a starting role by the end of next year.

I'm just trying to judge the signing in the bigger context of our other needs and guessing why the club think its good business. I hope its because we have two class half backs lined up so we need the cap space for that big announcement.....