I had Scruton and Patrick as equal. Larne Patrick seems to be getting back into things but has limited opportunities this season so far. Has Scruton gone backwards always seemed a reliable player to me

I think it is worth mentioning too that if the game was measured in terms of crowd figures we would still make the play offs. Quins, Crusaders, Catalan, Salford, Wakefield and Cas all had lower crowd averages than us last season.

Ultimately I hope that the parpage going on by some doesn't come and bite the rest of us on the a4se if we get beat this weekend. Bradford like to send a couple of runners close to the ball carrier near the ruck and then look for the offload or the short pass; that's what they used to run over Wakey this weekend gone so we'll need to be on our toes around the ruck and look at dominating the tackles as much as possible. I'd certainly advocate us going with two props on the bench this week rather than just our usual one. Yes we have one of the best packs in the league but Bradfords is bigger than what we've faced last week and that extra prop would ensure dominance throughout the game up front.

That's pretty much spot on imo, although I agree with Aaronbull atm, Disko has been playing well ang getting better with more time. With Elliott's early season form, I'd put him ahead of Ferguson too. Crabtree & Hargreaves are very different types of player so hard to compare, but for the value Eorl has on your team I think you've called that right.

Would have leroy ahead of platt.

I rate Langley very highly however O'Donnell is a superior player and not returning from injury.

O'Donnell had his best game to date against Quins and as the season goes on I think he's going to get better and better. I thought Fa'alogo also gave his best performance of the season to date against Quins.

Think Simpson will get a run this week...

:5iedrwj4


=#FF0000:5iedrwj4=#FF0000Again i would probably agree

both of them seem to be getting better. maybe they are feeding off each other and becoming a dynamic duo. feel that we will be seeing a lot more of them this year

As it warms up we will get the best out of them. Once Fa'alogo shaved his head last year, he was away.

The Giants pack beats the Bulls pack hands down on paper but games arnt won on paper, how any one can put Langley in the same bracket as Odonnell is not thinking straight,its about who turns up on the day trust me.

That's it. It was proven against Cas that if we don't turn up expecting it to be tough then we can and will get turned over.

We need to be fully focussed. A couple of seasons ago the Bulls beat us at our place and they were playing pap at the time.

We did have our eye on the cc final though did we not???

..............but it did no good !
Like Dan suggests - to be there or thereabouts at this level you cant have weeks off ! If the opponents are better on the day -that`s sport! But consistency in performanc IS the key !

But you cannot lay with that intensity week in week out. It is a long season.

I would be happy finshing 8th as long as we win the next 5 games after that.


Despite that there are certain games i look forward to for a variety of reasons,

Beating the Bulls, Beating wakefield just for the Local bragging rights, winning at Headingley just for once , winning at Wigan ( there is nothing like the sound of silence at the DW), Winning at HKR is nice feeling as well.

In reality winning our home games is the important thing as that is what puts bums back on the seats.

The one advantage of losing at Cas is that anytime Nathan wants to get the team up for it and to ensure there is no complacency he can always play that game again and that will be a wake up call.

I wasn't overly impressed with either LOD or Faalogo in the first three games - I think I was expecting them to be tearing up trees from day one!!

However, against Quins I thought they were awesome. Hopefully they have now shaken their rust off - if they have, I can see our back-row being the best in the league come the end of the season (and that is what counts!)

You are correct in this statement and things will either turn around or not for you. Despite being rivals I never wish ill of another club because THERE BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE ARE NOT. Whilst being a rival club and never wanting to wish you well your club has to try something to improve the decline showed in recent years.

The game I believe will be the first this year where we truely click and give a good account of ourselves. Our forwards are looking particularly good again this year and when are backs are working as a unit we will be a force.

It should be a good test on Sunday and I am really looking forward to it

Like I mentioned above, as it warms up so will these guys. O'Donnell is interviewed in the Examiner today and he states that Castleford was the heaviest pitch he has ever played on. Bear in mind that that includes junior level where you usually get the rubbish pitches!

In a few weeks these guys will be off! It was the same for Fuey and Fa'alogo last year.

There is one thing for definite. This game will be seen as a 'must win' for both teams, it will be a massive fight on the field and will be one of the games of the season.

I see nothing other then a Giants victory.

cant see it close to be honest, i fully expect the giants to win convincingly dont see were anybody is coming from with the bulls, 2 wins against wakey and the crusaders is hardly enough to signal it will be a close contest.

ATEOTD we've already seen what happens when you don't turn up mentally.

The league is a lot closer than in the past, I don't believe there are any forgone conclusions now. Especially at this time of the season.

Wish I could make it back for this one but its not to be. A win for Fartown by 16 points even against the mighty bulls.
I don't think the league is closer than in the past this season. Get further into the season and little divisions will start to appear in the comp like before and teams will break away from the rest.
Like you say its early in the season, the pitch's are heavy, the weathers not great and players and teams are still finding their feet so games are not as forgone conclusion.

bloody part-timer