Crusaders wanted him? I take it all back then.

I've seen him whenever the Bulls have been televised and he appears to be struggling ... particularly in the recent games. I can only go on the evidence but I'll have another look in a couple of hours.

For me Sykes is your average super league player,p155 poor.

Two passes in the last minute or so ... first one ten metres behind anyone ... got bailed out as Warrington were done for offside.

Next set, throws it straight into touch.

He still looks like he's struggling to me.

... in the interests of balance though, good break for the Halley try around the 50-minute mark.

McDermott? Alot of success as a coach? I must have missed that episode.

Sykes is playing out of position and yet trying his guts out to make things happen. I applaud the effort if not the execution.

Shouldn't be playing rugby league.

No, Brian Noble, who wanted Sykes at Crusaders.

Not straight into touch, Helly is small for a winger.


Right option, poor execution.

He had a fairly good game apart from a couple of errors.

As long as you are happy then fair enough.

As a neutral I always used to enjoy watching the Bulls, the awesome four-some, one of the best hookers in the game, half backs who could create and backs who had bags of tries in them. It seems so long ago now.

The Bulls recruitment policy over the past few seasons has been little short of shocking with class players leaving and average players replacing them (with possibly one or two exceptions).

Last seasons finishing league position and this seasons so-far are sadly no coincedence, they reflect the quality of player at a club whose five Grand Finals seem like a very distant memory.

i used to think he was pretty good as a fullback playing for the broncos, long passing doesn't seem to be his strong point though, i think he's doing alright on the try assists this year but i seem to recall him throwing more bad passes than good.

Why do youi think that is? Do you think it's got something to do with the club not being able to afford to sign loads of top class players anymore?

i think sykes is a good player.. not a 6 though. was excellant when at quins and playing centre

As a stand-off he is well out of his depth, his passing game is weak, yet he doesn't have the running game that Leon Pryce has that let's him get away with it.

and as a centre, he is a lot better, but lack's that killer instinct of a natural centre, doesn't really fit the mould of a Matt Gidley/ Martin Gleeson style or a powerful Keith Senior/ Kirk Yeaman style

Full back his best position?

Oh dear

Great contribution to the thread.



As Bullseye said, we can't afford to be signing superstars.

FWIW, in this off season our recruitment has improved a hell of a lot.

L'Estrange in, Newton out

Orford in, Deacon out

Hall in, Morrison out

Kearney in, Platt shifted to centres

The only one that looks particularly poor is Sculthorpe for Burgess, and the club couldn't reallt tell Burgess he wasn't allowed to fulfil a lifetime ambition.

Our finishing league position is set to improve this year, which means our recruitment must have been good in the off-season.

Huddersfield's is set to be lower than last year - pi$$ poor recruitment then ???

Sykes is a decent enough performer at SL level, and can do a job in a few positions which makes him a useful addition to the squad.

Personally I think 3 years is probably one too many, but there are a hell of a lot of worse signings Bradford could have made (and indeed have been making in recent years).

Sykes has one advantage over a lot of players!!

He ain't a crocked Aussie/Kiwi or Oceanic keeping a brit from playing at the top level.

Sadly teams are too full of those who do.

Change the flippin record, no one cares

Says a follower of a club full of overseas players and still signs crocks from Huddersfield.

However you will not pass any comment when England get hammered every test match will you as long as your blinkers are on and your glasses with My club My club My club only written in front of your eyes. will you!!!

Yes.

I also think it runs a little deeper than that (although the word yes answers your question).

L'Estrange is ok and is certainly better than having a player suspended for drug use so no argument there.

Orford v Deacon hard to assess - Deacon was generally solid and allowed the better players around him to express themselves. Orford ... well if only he could stay fit and wasn't homesick but whilst he has undoubtedly been a class act they are definitely two major issues.

Hall in, Morrison out - to the casual observer not a massive amount of difference but you see more of him than I ever will.

Kearney a very decent signing - with the issues over Orford probably the best.

But I did say 'over the past few seasons', the above are recent changes, in all honesty I was comparing the situation of say 5,6 or 7 years ago with the past 2 or 3.