Well we're going to face a Leigh side who will be pretty fired up after their defeat to Fev. As has been posted on the Sheffield, I expect us to have a response but be "brave losers".

Certainly can't see us winning. Looks like we'll see a battle of the backlash.

Could get messy. They have some dangerous strike players, Nene Macdonald already looks like he's going to have a big season.

If we give 100% I won't have any complaints.

It's hard to draw too many conclusions from watching them playing in a mud bath, to them playing on a green carpet next week at LSV.

However there are areas we can exploit. Dixon had a nightmare, seemingly dropping everything. I fully expect us to kick to him everytime. (so we probably won't kick to him all game and he'll prob get a hat trick)

Leighs discipline was shocking, particularly Reynolds, we really need to get in their faces. If we show them too much respect and just allow then to play we're done for.

Also every scrum Leigh held it in at the loose forward. So not only do I expect us to push at the first scrum, if we get caught offside then the whole bloody lot wanting sacking.

I fully expect us to win by a drop goal, be inundated by the 'told you so' crew who'll blindly sing the praises of all things Bradford whilst telling us we're not proper supporters etc and then get an absolute pasting from Barrow the week after as the players believe the hype...

Such is life with the Bulls

This is exactly what will happen

We could really do with a fullback fit

Apart from we'll prob lose by a DG rather than win, you're bang on.

Reading Flanagan comments in the T&A, I'm a little disappointed but it explains why the same thing keeps happening if that's our attitude. Maybe he's trying to take. The heat off the players, but he describes the game against Leigh as a free hit? I mean we're not at the bottom of the table, playing the team in 1st spot who are unbeaten in 20 games. Leigh are definitely favourites and have more quality than us, but they are weaknesses and this is a winnable game. It just feels like our at attitude is "do enough". Last season we got to the play-offs and it was as if the players thought " that's enough" instead of thinking, we could get third here and even more. We'll put on a valiant effort against Leigh and be brave losers and get praise for an improved performance. But that's not good enough IMO We'll be 1 from 3. We should be going there with the 100% purpose of winning.

Who do we think will dropped this week?

Surely they cant all keep thier spot?
Obviously Flemming will be suspended. Hopefully Scurr will be back in for him.

I'd definitely bring Scurr back if he's fit. Id be tempted to include Kibula too if he's fit as we're lacking impact off the bench.

What do we think of the experiment of playing Doyle at loose forward?

Nobody will be dropped

We learned this last season. No matter how many times John Kear was quoted in the T&A about how people couldn't complain if they were dropped, he never did drop people.

And I agree about Leigh. This is the time to play them. They've got virtually a new team from last season that will take a few weeks to gel, plus they have injuries in a paper-thin squad that lacks depth beyond the first 17.

If we are ever going to have a chance of going to Leigh and getting a result this season, then now is the time to do it.

Nene Macdonald will have a field day down our flanks. As good as I think Gill and Evans are. Macdonald is on another level. And Leilua too (for when we play Fev).

It will take a great defensive effort to keep him quiet. And even if we do. They’ll cut him out and use him to tie up defenders and free up space.

As much as I want to beat them. Can’t see anything but a pasting. I’m hoping for the best in terms of effort but the skill levels and speed just aren't up to Leigh’s.

Probably right but dangerous if the players go into the game thinking that. Flanagan's "free hit" comment shows they're not expecting to win. A pasting almost becomes a self fulfilling prophecy with a mentality like that.

Totally agree with you. I hope Flanagan’s ‘free hit’ comment was a way to put pressure back on Leigh. If Leigh think we see it as a free hit, they might think they’ve already won the game. A fired up Bulls and JK defend heroically and come away with a smash and grab!

Heroic performance ending in a gallant defeat on Monday, beat Barrow with a professional performance before losing to London in the Cup and Batley in the League. You heard it here first.

McDonald looks a tremendous threat but the more pressing issue is the work rate of our entire middle unit. If we stand as flat as we did on Sunday he'll score a hatful.

I thought Doyle was our best forward but the bench interchange was a disaster. Flanagan also did OK, whereas Johnson looked like a fish out of water and played too wide, not that he had too many runners coming short for him to attack behind the ruck. Maybe Evans wasn't quite recovered and already I'm not sure about Baldwinson. Fleming was one of the very few that got off his line and defended, but he's slow on a sound surface let alone a bog.

We need Scurr plus 3 others I haven't seen yet.

Two Leigh players have just picked up bans...

Edit: Oh but they don't come in until next week? Well that's no fun.

No Fleming for us. You can take that one either way.

Chris Green broke his arm in the Fev game.

I'd love to see Lilley coming off the bench at dummy half.

As far as we know he's weeks away from being fit?

Alright Bulls
Really looking forward to this one.

As one of your lads pointed out correctly, we are paper thin in squad numbers, especially in the pack. With Green out with a broken arm it will lighten our resolve in the middles.

Ben Reynolds is not leading us around the field & his kicking game is shocking ! The young Centre Brand we got from Wire is defensively weak.

Leigh could do with Ipape arriving soon & Gelling getting signed + couple more middles.

Always enjoy our match ups & your knowledgeable fans I have always found a friendly lot personally.
Hope you bring plenty & there's a great atmosphere *difficult on a Monday night*.
Wish you luck for the season but not Monday.

Enjoy your evening whatever the result & have a safe trip.

What's the rules re dual reg, if Shaul doesn't play for FC against Wakefield could he still be included?

Our dual reg arrangements generally seem to be a waste of time. We have two fullbacks injured which would seem the ideal time to make use of the arrangement. Admittedly Jake Connor injury doubt might be an issue, but he's also in their 21 man squad.

I hope Bulls players were watching the Ledds game today. Great effort and attitude from Leeds in the face of adversity. Player sent off, one in the bin, two players off
injured but still didn't deserve to lose. Fantastic defence and line speed all game. Also don't refs police players standing square at the play the ball.