Samir Tahraoui has been loaned out to Keighley Cougars for a month. www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/pos ... oan-switch Dan Fleming, Chris Ulugia and Vila Halafihi will all play at Oxford this weekend. Matty Blythe may return to the first team this weekend.

Samir Tahraoui has been loaned out to Keighley Cougars for a month. www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/pos ... oan-switch Dan Fleming, Chris Ulugia and Vila Halafihi will all play at Oxford this weekend. Matty Blythe may return to the first team this weekend.

Good news for him and us, gives him game time at a respectable club and helps him get match fit for us in the 8's

And Karl Davies has fallen off the face of the earth, or so it seems.

What has happened to him, havent seen him even at games for while?

Wasn't he loaned to Oxford?

Karl has played a handful of games for Oxford this season I believe. I also think he's cut off his flowing long locks so he maybe harder to spot.

He hasn't played for Oxford for about three weeks now. I suppose he could be injured, but any update at all would be better than nothing at all.

Having this big squad hasn't worked how I expected. I thought all players would get a go in the first team but it looks like Jimmy has his favourites already. This could be a problem if a few of them get injured just before the 8s as he will then need to pick players who just have not played in the first team that much. For me, now is the time to be playing the best players - or is that what he is doing. On the other hand he may be keeping safe the players who he knows can slot straight back in such as Blyth, Mullaney and Ferguson. There must be a plan being played out but I am not completely sure I can make it out just yet!

It's pretty exciting that we will soon be in a position where we can throw them three back into the mix. All three are top class.

I can see Mullaney and Ferguson taking Shaw and Mellor's place in the recent 17 quite nicely, I just feel that the two centres Purts and Henry are in great form at the moment. It would be very harsh to push one of those two out for Blythe.

Purtell is fixed in at centre I would actually put Blythe in at centre and play Henry on the wing instead of uasiele.

Unlucky for Ulugia as he looked good before his injury but Blythe is a proven quality super league player,his defence is stronger than the other guys and it will be our defence that will get us promoted. If it stays strong and committed then that will be the difference between going up or staying in this league.

Our attack will cause the SL teams problems, we can't afford to do a Wakefield and ship a load of points with very little effort in defence. We have to make the SL teams earn their scores against us, putting Blythe in strengthens our edge.

I have theories about Davies, perhaps only one quota player can be used for dual reg at a time. And if he doesn't play for Bradford maybe it won't trigger any second year clauses making him easier to release, it's a shame we haven't seen Karl but IMO he'd certainly be one of the first to leave and free up a quota spot, but that is simply because we haven't seen him so dunno what we're missing. As for Tahraoui I'd keep him as a young prop, even though Karl and Samir are probably the same age.

Henry was hopeless against Mantellato when switched to the wing, although I do accept he's improved (at centre) since then. I'd still pick Blythe, and Uaisele in the absence of Ulugia.

Seems strange to me with 3games in 7 days coming up. If we don't rotate them and get these lads a game then what was the point of such a big squad?

Sounds like he did well for the Cougars. At a bit of a loss to what went wrong with Samir though to be honest. Fair enough he isn't the finished article but was he really performing any less effectively than say Lauaki? But then I thought Fleming was starting to find his feet too and then he disappeared from the starting line up... so what do I know!

I know Lowesy is keen to keep a settled team but surely he should looking to rotate a few forwards to keep everyone fresh and match ready for the Middle 8's?

Maybe it was just a tough battle in wet conditions but i thought both starting props looked tired. Surely we could rest 1 next week, like we all seem to be saying it's not like we haven't got any capable replacements.

I have a theory as well. Is it salary cap management? I know if you deregister a player from your playing roster then they don't count on the cap. Usually that rule is applied to long term injuries - Blythe? for example to allow you to get in a replacement. We could just be that close to the salary cap limit I suppose.

It could also have something to do with squad planning for next year. If players aren't getting any game time here how can they show their true worth.
Maybe we are also freeing up some salary cap with a view to an acquisition.

Think that's part of reason. with Brook, Peterson, Tahroui, Walshaw and conroy out on one month loans rather than dual regs I'd assume that their salary doesn't count on our cap for the month there on loan for. So we've effectively freed up 5 months worth of Cap space for a player.

Think theres also an element of tactics to it. With Peterson and Walshaw loans we're helping Sheffield and Dewsbury who could both get into top four potentially keeping London out. I'd assume we'd bring our players back for middle eights leaving teams they've helped who we'll have to play weaker. Also Think leigh have to play them both too. Plus we players fit who aren't getting in 1st team and playing at a higher standard than championship 1.

I believe the rules are that if a player is loaned to a club in the top 4 when the super 8's start then they can't be recalled. However, I'd imagine that there will be a clause in the loan saying they can't be selected to play against us

The rule is that players on loan have to stay at club there at at the start of the middle eights. they cant be recalled or loaned out once the middle eights start. At moment none of our players loans extend into middle eight period so not an issue. be interesting to see if any of deals are extended into that period. I suspect they wont be. We'll just give Sheffield and Dewsbury a boost to try and get there then pull our players back. Be a bit silly to be strengthening teams we have to play against. Suspect there will be something in place to prevent clauses preventing players playing against there parent clubs once middle eights start.

Not really sure the RFL would micromanage to that level, to be honest, nor can I really see why they should.

If clubs are willing to loan out players I can't see why barriers should be put in their way - and if clubs allow their players to be used against themselves, well that's their decision. I can't really see us being so daft at the 'business end' of the season.

Your correct. Mentioned in article about conroy having his loan extended till end of season that he won't be able to play against us in middle eights if dewsbury get their.