Wanting to play for a top four, and having the ability to play for a top four are not always the same thing Mr. Whitehead.

He's sounding a bit like an early rounds X Factor contestant.



Most players work their backsides off for their club, playing themselves into a spot at a bigger club or hoping to get noticed and snapped up.

Either his agent is bending his ear, or (good for him) he's very confident. Either way he could easily end up looking like a fool.

You think every member of the Bradford squad grew up dreaming of playing for the Bulls? You think Manoukafoa grew up dreaming of pulling on the red, amber, and black? That Keith Lulia sat in Wollongong dreaming of East Bowling? No of course they didnt. Few players play for the only club they want to play for. They play for whoever offers them the best deal at the time.

No where does it say that Whitehead wont give it his all, no where does it say that he wont give 100% or that he doesnt want to be available for Bradford, no where does it say he hasnt been trying in training or on the pitch. No where does it say he has done or said anything unprofessional or in breach of his contract, simply that he wants to leave.

Whitehead has stuck to his contract, his contract allows him to ask for a transfer.

Salford will be automatically linked with anyone.

There is quite a lot (not universal) of fan support for James Donaldson being given a new contract, which given a background of 2 serious injuries resulting in about 18 months recovery time over 3 years, is showing support for a player who hasn't really had chance to prove his worth. Even if he doesn't get a renewal this year, he was given a new contract for this season, at the end of last year, when 3 months into last season he did his ACL and was out for the remainder of the season.

Can't see him getting in the Salford side next year anyway. Must be 6th or 7th down the pecking order with Hock, Morley, Tickle, Carvell, Paterson, Hauraki and Kirmond all on board.

Ambition? Is this the club on half Sky money, that was only told on 1st May 2013 that it even had a SL licence for 2014, or some other mysterious club that I don't know about?

Shameless plug. https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/342641989747109888

Shameless plug. https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/342641989747109888

Quote ="richardviking"Shameless plug. https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/342641989747109888'" Ouch Bad stat that. Hope those top 4 clubs don't see this!

Quote ="richardviking"Shameless plug. https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/342641989747109888'" Ouch Bad stat that. Hope those top 4 clubs don't see this!

Quote ="richardviking"Shameless plug. https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/342641989747109888'" Is that not due to the set up at Bradford. They have 3 of the top five ( or maybe top ten ) for missed tackles maybe he just wants to fit in with his team mates.

Quote ="richardviking"Shameless plug. https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/342641989747109888'" Is that not due to the set up at Bradford. They have 3 of the top five ( or maybe top ten ) for missed tackles maybe he just wants to fit in with his team mates.

According to the superleague website they have the top3 - Whitehead, Addy and Walker.

Tackling has appeared to be an issue since he moved into the first team but he compensated in other ways. This year his whole game has seemed to be off it so the complaints about his tackling have become more prominent since his attacking hasn't been as effective.
Anyway you're underestimating us as we've currently got the top 3 in missed tackles plus another in the top 10

We'll have him, we love liabilities at Rovers

Oooh, you misery! Spoiling his rant by adding a few facts...

No I don't. But when they sign a contract for x number of years I expect them to stick to it. If Manoukafoa or Lulia want to leave Bradford they can do so at the end of their contracts, the same as Whitehead, who's reasons for leaving are pathetic. He was happy to sign a 5 year deal just last year, when Bradford were 7th in the table as they are now. No-one forced him to sign a long term deal. He could have signed a 1 or 2 year deal. He should see out the length of his contract.

It's a bit of a dual standard to demand Whitehead honour all of his contract but then criticise him for exercising a clause within that contract. Bradford signed a contract with provision for whitehead to hand in a transfer request, that contract has two sides. If it is incumbent formWhitehead to honour his side of the deal it is incumbent on Bradford to honour theirs.

I have yet to seenWhitehead in the news bad mouthing Bradford for not honouring his contract in good faith(including the clause which allows him to request a transfer) I have seen franny cummins being pretty disparaging though

You can't knock some one for having ambition but I just think back to Sean O'Loughlin sticking with Wigan when they where far from being considered a top 4 side and then going onto lift the super league and challenge cup trophies a few seasons later. Things can change very quickly in rugby league especially when a club is managed correctly, and on the surface Bradford appear to be developing well on and off the field under new management.

I'm curious as to what FC's said that's disparaging about EW? Is it in here [urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbulls/10466160.Whitehead_drops_Bradford_Bulls_transfer_bombshell/[/url or here [urlhttp://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/latest_news/article/8364/whitehead-hands-in-transfer-request[/url?

two words

TAME TUPOU

If Whitehead wants away, fair enough.

But he goes under conditions that are suitable for Bradford, not as when it suits him. If he had issues with playing for a "lesser" club, last year when his new contract was on the table was the time to air them.

In the tradition of footballers everywhere, having issued a "come get me" plea, expect him to kiss the badge next time he scores.

didn't have a firm idea about a destination. Time will tell.

Signed for Salford.... don't remember seeing them in the Top 4

Not signed yet. A fee has been agreed we still need the player to agree.

Given his stated objective, unless he has a crystal ball, that was a wasted discussion.

First in a long line of mercenaries. no great loss to Bradford.

First? I'm pretty sure others have jumped ship for cash before