According the the [url=http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/4404/BULLS%20AND%20ROCHDALE%20HORNETS%20IN%20LINK%20UPofficial site[/url.

Shame we've gone over the hills, didn't Keighley fancy it?

thought you used dewsbury??

Its good news, some of our young players will now be able to get first team action, all though it be in a lower league it will boost there confidance, and some good player come from that part of the world so you never we might end up getting some quality players.

For about a week, years ago.

Which is why I'll take this news with a pinch of salt too.

Do we reckon they pretty much just took the press release from a few years ago and changed a few names?

What happenned to wakefield ru????

It remains to be seen of course, but I think we should be positive about this.

I've thought for ages that clubs that cannot seriously entertain aspirations for Super League should link up with clubs in Superleague. The only slightly odd thing is the geography - you'd expect it to be more sensible for us to link with Keighley or Batley, but there are probably historic and personality reasons why that hasn't happened.

I look forward to the likes of Olbison, Crossley and Hyde getting some gametime for Rochdale.

If that sort of thing does happen, it will be beneficial to both sides.

However we said the same when we linked up with Dewsbury, and were expecting exactly the same results, but then it just quietly went away, with the exception of a friendly there each year.

Very clever move by the Bulls as it opens up a new 'service area' to the club outside the congested West Yorkshire / Heavy Woollen area we already have eyes and ears in.

The eastern side of Greater Manchester i.e Rochdale and Oldham have a great tradition of developing good players that need a Super League opportunity that the Bulls can bow legally tap up!

Good work Mr. Medley

M62 J21 Rochdale is only about 25 mins from Odsal outside of peak hours. This would seem to give Bulls easier access to the talent in the East Lancs area away from our hinterland where we'll already be pretty active, and Rochdale vice-versa. And Rochdale is a fair way from their nearest SL clubs (Salford & Huddersfield), which are themselves not that much nearer than Bradford.

This one came out of the blue; but IF it is followed through (unlike the last two attempts) then its a very intriguing move. And one which geographically makes a hell of a lot of sense. After all, hell would have to freeze over before the good folk of Keighley would sign up to something like this with Bradford, Halifax is going places again and won't be anybody's "feeder club", and there are too many other SL clubs too close to Dewsbury, Batley and Hunslet.

Must be good move for Rochdale too, because they are far enough away not to be overshadowed (or worse).

Starting to like the idea a lot.

I love the idea. IF it's followed through.

And as most of us have mentioned, that's a bit IF judging by recent past form.

Went bust.

Well here's hoping for a profitable partnership

Good move and hopefully Rochdale will do very well out of this!

The other benefit is that the Rochdale Hornets seem to indicate that it will be making use of the Bulls' administration services for which, hopefully, the Bulls will be paid.

For an arrangement like this to work it has to be sybiotic so I hope that agreements about who does what, gives, takes etc have been firmed up.
If they have and both parties are willing and able to perform to an agreement then its a great step forward for both clubs.
Benefits can be achieved in the intent is there.

Good move imo

Did I read correctly about the rules for the reserve grade being altered next year so over 20's aren't eligible and does this have anything to do with this link up?

Generally a good idea as we've seen the advantage of getting players not quite ready for first team some more competitive game time and having first pick on players from another area looks like an efficient way of scouting.

Admittedly above Deacon's standard but he might get a game for their reserves.

My immediate reaction was that these kind of link-ups are an inevitable consequence of abolishing the reserve grade. I'm sure this must have been in the RFL's mind when taking that decision. If that's the case, then by implication the RFL is encouraging a kind of feeder-club structure for the UK...?

Probably. The reserves is under 20's from next year so this avoids the situation Leeds are in letting a load of young players leave. Looking at the likes of Dave halley he would have been plying his trade in the Championship now had it been like this.

Even if that wasn't the case it's a smart move because IMO the championship's are a better standard and a hell of a lot harder than the reserves.

Does anyone know the rules regarding loaned players? ie How many a team is allowed to have and how many they're allowed to field?

I think for football it's a max of 3 loan players fielded so working on that I wouldn't mind seeing 3 of our better prospects getting solid 1st team experience.

TBH if it makes Bradford a better, stronger club then I'm all for it

Not so sure there are any at the moment. Widnes seem to have used quite a lot of loan players this year, but not necessarily all at the same time.

Wasn't there something recently from one of the Co-Op clubs asking for tighter loan rules to be brought in?

Taken from the extant Operational Rules...

Sounds like potentially a great move. The Rochdale club have had a few ups and downs lately but their current administration is well organised and enthusiastic. I hope it works out for both clubs.