So onto the big derby next. I've put this on the Fax board but I think what happens 24 hours earlier will have a big impact on this game. If Widnes beat Toulouse icon_razz.gifRAY: then it's in our hands to finish second, so I'd expect us to also come out all guns blazing and be just as motivated as Fax if that happens. If Toulouse win then barring a massive shock of Toulouse losing to Batley at home, that's us finishing third no matter what and feel Fax could be more desperate than us.

It's always a big game so can't see either team going into this one not bothered. Fax will be fired up to try and finish on a high. If we have a chance of finishing second then that would be extra motivation for us.

If Taufua is out is that Lehmann on the wing? Is Tindall still at the club? I'd bring Ott back on the bench for Sammut provided Gaskell is fully fit - he didn't look convincing versus Batley but maybe he was a bit worried about the Odsal pitch doing his hamstring again. The surface at Halifax is fantastic so he ought to have fewer concerns there.

No Doro and probably no Gill for this one to go with the other long term absentees.

This game has always been setup as a a banana skin. The Panthers have been terrible this year but this is the one game that matters to their supporters.

I'd like to hope we are treating this game as preparation for the play offs and we turn up with a good attitude. I suspect we won't and it will be one of those games where they want it just that bit more than us.

Games like this and at the back end of the season can throw up all sorts of permutations.
It's hard to combat the subconscious relaxation if we can only finish 3rd, added to the fact players will be thinking about not being injured for the play-offs.

On the other hand there maybe a commitment to form, results and momentum to take in to the play-offs.

I've a feeling we'll either see a tight single digit fax win or a big Bulls win.

For Halifax, this is their cup final, but we’re unbeaten in four and have more than enough quality to get the job done. Regardless of the emotions driving Halifax into Sunday, we should have enough to see us home and extend our run as we approach the playoffs.

2nd place could be well and truly back on as Widnes are beating Toulouse 12-0.

Scratch that. Widnes bottled it.

Yeh the last two games are now looking a bit dead rubber. Pleasing that we've secured 3rd with a couple of games to go but can't help but wonder what might have been if we'd controlled a few games better earlier in the season.

Looks like whoever is going to face Wakey in the final is going to have to find a win over in France.

Going into today’s game, we find ourselves in an interesting position, having already secured a playoff spot. While there's not much at stake in terms of playoff qualification, the game still holds significance against one of our rivals. A win today would serve to maintain the positive momentum we’ve built over the past month, reinforcing the confidence and form we’ve developed during this crucial stretch of the season.

On the other hand, a loss, while not impacting our playoff status, could disrupt the rhythm we've worked hard to establish. Momentum is key in the playoffs, and we don’t want a setback to affect the team’s morale or undo the progress we've made. Today’s game is an opportunity to fine-tune any issues and enter the playoffs with the strongest possible mindset.

The focus should be on playing with the same intensity and discipline that got us this far.

Its a test of the sides professionalism and personal standards now more than anything. The marketing manager will also be praying that we get the win otherwise next week will be a tough sell at home to Swinton.

Wonder if the club have considered doing a season finale and play off elimator ticket package? Otherwise I fear quite a few might decide to save their brass for the following week.

Good idea! On a side note, I'm surprised that the club hasn't launched season ticket prices for 2025 yet.

Really need to win. Feels like it would be a bit of gut wrencher to lose to our rivals. Get the win then take it to the last game of the season, finish comfortable third and in good form for play-offs.

Well the game played out pretty much how I expected. Fax were just that little bit more desperate for the result and it showed. Too many opportunities wasted by the Bulls.

Big improvements needed if we want to avoid an early play off exit.

Death, Taxes and Bradford bottling games.

Yes, we had already secured a playoff spot and today was technically a dead rubber, but Halifax were always going to be up for it and I thought we’d give them more of a game than that. We marched them down the field easily enough, but once again looked clueless when attacking their line. In the first half alone, we bombed three tries from poor handling.

In the second half, we got sucked into the niggle and never really looked like regaining control. I’m not sure what’s going on with Zac Fulton, but his late-season drop-off is alarming. Souter had another brain explosion, getting sinbinned and sapping a lot of energy from the team.

Next week, we’ve got another dead rubber against a side fighting for survival. I just hope our season isn’t coming off the rails at the worst time. Massive response needed.

Lowest crowd of the season incoming next week unless the Bulls have something up their sleeves.

Usually would look at resting a few bodies but the current form must be a concern for EOC so he will likely want to keep some continuity.

It’s a weird one. Do you go with a stronger team in hope of bouncing back after a poor game today or rest your better players in preparation for the play offs.

I assume Doro and probably Lawrence will be given the weekend off. I’d also be tempted to sit Souter and Fulton out in the hope that a week off could freshen them up a bit. Franco should also come in for Lehmann who was poor today.

Gaskell was poor again today and I would rather give Sammut a go. Gaskell seems to not want to get involved anymore.
Lehmann shouldn't be at Bulls next year.

Getting bored now of O'Carroll's excuses saying we will fix it for next week and the boys are gutted.when you have 2 halves who can't run your going to struggle.He keeps going on about game management which comes from your spine players who have the ball most of the time and ours are poor .Gaskell waste of space lilley no pace so preditable.Also more errors and naive decisions than an under 11s team.looking like we're finding scoring as hard as Catalans are .is this anything to do with eamons coaching skills .

As ever the comments on social media are over the top and a lot of finger pointing at individual players. In truth you could go through 80% of the team and highlight something they could or should of done better, collectively the team just didn't match Halifax energy.

Although everyone likes to win a derby in the bigger picture this game doesnt change anything, we still have a chance of having a successful season. I think a realistic measure of success would be two wins in the play offs and getting to the final where in likelihood somebody will lose to Wakefield.

The result is less disappointing than the predictability of the Bulls performance when we come up against a desperate but in truth fairly limited side in terms of ability. To me it once again highlights the lack of game management quality within the squad. On a positive note, I thought Keyes showed what he will add in 2025, just a shame we couldn't bring him in a bit earlier.

3rd spot now confirmed, all focus now on play off rugby and we need to use the Swinton game to find some momentum as the last two performances have been below par.

Bulls fans losing their minds on Facebook that's for sure. Seems to be the thing nowadays to have a meltdown every 5 mins.

My own thoughts were that Fax played exactly like we expected. We had heaps of chances but didn't make them count. Both Gill and Okunbor should've definitely scored in the first half. In the second half Lehmann's mistake and the Pele one in particular were bad. No composure or recognition that we needed to build pressure. Whenever we lost the ball over the line (at least five times) we gave up a seven tackle set.

We really missed Taufua. Lehman's not the same standard. He made one great kick return and dealt with the high kicks well enough but got caught over his line plenty of times where Taufua would probably have made a bit more ground. The incident in the first half where we made an overlap and Gill passed into touch would've been a try if Lehman hadn't been day dreaming and been up with play. He was another that had trouble holding the ball near the line too.

Still not using Pele properly. We need to get him taking the ball at speed not stood still. Scurr at least looked more his normal self after an injury hit season. He was our best forward IMO. Gaskell marginally more involved than last week but kicking game wasn't as good as Keyes who really pinned us back in the second half. Lilley running too laterally again and dropping players off too far from the defensive line isn't committing any defenders.

As we got more and more frustrated we made more and more mistakes with Fax then feeding off it. Disappointing display but there is still plenty of potential in the side - just need more patience.

Poor result yesterday, we should have had enough to beat fax but the conditions were a leveller, that is not an excuse but does make executing plays more difficult.
Some supporters have short memories it’s only a couple of seasons since we finished down where fax are now.
Generally we are on an upward direction and one defeat doesn’t change that. We will finish the season 3rd in the ladder for the second consecutive season so we must be doing something well.
Can’t see anyone troubling Wakefield in the playoffs so all we can do is give it our best shot, and build for next season.
One or two key additions next season and we could be where Wakefield are now.

The table doesn't really matter. And we would need a massive increase in funding to get to where Wakefield are now, because we'd have to go Full time. And even that doesn't guarantee us SL.

Being brutally honest - the tables this season are:

Championship F/T table
1) Wakefield
2) Toulouse

Championship P/T table
1) Bradford
2, 3, 4, 5 - yet to be decided
6) donny
7,8 Halifax & Batley
etc

Did you think so? A lot of talk just before kick off seemed to be Fax fans complaining that it were raining as it should have suited your monster pack where as Fax would have thought a dry track would have suited better with more flair in our backs. I were worried after Bradford made so many yards in the first few sets but it looked like the bag lads just ran out of steam late on making it a real contest.

It will be interesting to see if the accusations at the end of the game were picked up on the officials mic and the disciplinary are going to have some fun with that one.

Thought it was our inability to build pressure that cost us. At least half a dozen seven tackle sets. Both sides lost forwards to injury but Souter's daft yellow card cost us too. The second half was mainly Fax as they executed their game plan well which was to kick to Lehmann and force a drop out or pin us back. Keyes kicking and the Fax chase was great. We didn't have a discernable game plan in the second half other than chucking it about and lost the ball over the line three times which was a big let off when we needed to get camped up their end. A Fax fan in front of me was loving it but said they hadn't showed that level of desperation in defense all season. Just shows how some had raised their game.

Pele lost the ball twice just making a hash of the PTB. It summed up how often players were trying too hard and losing composure. With a wet ball you need to take care. Fax played the conditions better really.

Nobody is talking about the 5minutes after the hooter. Is that on purpose? Just wait to see who gets called up? It could really mess up our playoffs.