Gateshead anyone?

Looks like Heremaia is likely to start at scrum-half, can't say I agree with that personally. Yes Seymour had a poor game last week but we need to give him and Holdsworth some time to form a partnership. Holdsworth missed the majority of pre season and the two of them only played around 20 minutes together in the 2 trial games, it's fair to say that you'd expect them to be rusty in the opening few rounds. We need some consistency at halfback, throwing Heremaia in at 7 every other week is going to do is no good whatsoever, and from what I've seen of Heremaia at scrum-half, he's no world beater. Theres no doubt he is an important player to us, but at hooker, interchanging with Houghton...not dictating play in the halves. He was outstanding last week at Headingley, playing in his natural position! Why move him from there? We would be weakening ourselves imo, and I think its a mistake from Gentle if he goes with this.

Although Bulls fans greatly appreciated the help from certain other clubs and fans, none of that helped the current owner. It kept the previous owners in situ a bit longer.

It was not "the rugby league community" that bought the stadium, it was the RFL. As an asset, and for a commercial rent. One of these days, I would not be surprised to find that the RFL is able to surrender the head lease for rather more than it paid for it. But time will tell there.

OK has not complained about the confiscation of funding. ANd we fans know we don't have to like it, we just have to live with it. It was a condition of getting the licence. The only thing he (and quite a few fans) have taken issue with is that the funds went to all the other clubs.

This debate seems to be degenerating into challenging one item after another of selective recollection or understanding. I have not seen my response to Standee's initial assertion refuted in any way, just attempts now to divert attention onto matters unconnected with the original asertion. As so often happens in the face of a robust defence. Little more to be gained by playing that game.

The game that matters anyway is on the pitch tonight., and with Leeds doing us no favours last week, and what is bound to be a vociferous home crowd, I'd say it remains a mighty big challenge for the visitors.

To be fair, no previous club exiting insolvency had received significant financial support prior to the transfer of ownership.

Actually he has, although more about where the funds have ended up rather than the fact of the confiscation per se.

I agree. I thought Seymour did ok last week. Sure he made some mistakes but at least he played like he cared. Holdsworth however was fairly anonymous and if Heremaia does play at 7 tonight then Houghton will have to play much, much better than he did last week because I can't remember him having a worse game.

Jamie Foster has some very nice things to say about Hull and the supporters in today's Hull Daily Mail.

He also says he won't celebrate any tries or goals should he score tonight.

Good lad is Jamie, hope he gets a good reception.

Actually he has not. Check out what he said. He specifically said he accepted the confiscation; but he thought that distributing it to other clubs rather than using it for e.g. nationwide youth development was unfair. Personally, I think he was unwise to say it, even if he thought it. But that was all he said.

we are missing watts and ellis who are 2 big units plus tickle and am sure our pack are missing them,saying that we have enough on board to win tonight,must say i would have preferred to have seen seymour at 7, hopefully a good crowd as well

Not arguing with any bit of that...................

To our knowledge, though, does anyone know what really happened in each previous case? Especially the "reconstructions" that avoided insolvencies, like Hudds/Sheffield, and Gateshead/Hull. And the role of Super League Europe in acquiring shares in the latter?

In our case, as in the case of various other clubs at various times, the RFL paid us advances on sky monies due later in the year. We knew something like this was going on, because the RFL took out a debenture on the Bulls' assets in Janbuary 2011. That could only have been as security for advances. And, don't forget, to repay those advances the club sold its principal asset to the RFL. So the RFL did not actually lose any money, has a property currently yielding respectable income of around 6.5%, and I am quite expecting that at some stage in the future we could be "encouraged" to move to Valley Parade, and the RFL will receive a nice settlement for surrendering the long lease. That, though, is pure speculation on my part, and the RFL might equally seek to move from Rot Hall to Odsal and make it the national RL centre. Who knows?

The RFL lost virtually no money on the Bulls' insolvency, and came away from it with a big chunk of real estate. tbh, they seem to be the only party that did not lose out of this whole sorry affair.

Do you have a link, I can't find it on the HDM website...thanks.

Anyone know if Eagle is still shutdown?

I read the tone of the piece a little differently to you, although I did say he was mainly complaining about where the cash went. He might actually have a point, albeit a naive one. The cash belonged to the SL and the clubs were never going to be altruistic with the disbursement.

No link, just read it in the paper itself. They don't always put stories on the website.

Talking about how the loan move reignited his career, amongst other things, he says "Hull were outstanding. What a club they are. The fans were amazing, the players and coaches. They really kick-started my career and I owe them a hell of a lot. I'll be showing a lot of respect when I got there. I'll be giving 110% to the Bradford cause but there won't be any celebrations if I score any tries or kick any goals. I really appreciate what they've done for me and my career. I'll be showing a bit of class".

Completely agree. Really hope we don't go back to Heremaia at halfback after one game, would just smack of a panicky response and not address what the real problem was last week. I'll actually feel quite sorry for Seymour if he's dropped and then the pack pull their fingers out.

He has 3 players there and only one can play the full 80. Heremai, on form, is the pick of the three, so he starts at 7 then switches to 9 when Houghton needs a rest and Seymour comes on.

Possible way Gentle is thinking

Then, as you say, he's a top bloke and true profeessional.

There are a few FC players, past and present, that could learn from him!

My problem with this way of thinking is that is saying that hookers and halves are the same when they're not. Yes, some can do a job in the other position, but rarely are they as good, and IMO this applies to Heremaia. If Heremaia deserves to play, play him at hooker.

Gentle actually said about this when he took over, that he wouldn't move players around instead of giving kids a go and that he would play players in their proper positions, if he goes against this to get rid of Seymour and to try and accommodate both Houghton and Heremaia into the same 13 I personally will be very disappointed.

Especially as IMO the larger problem lies with the forwards.

What a top guy! Its so refreshing to hear things like that, both from an appreciative and impressed (and eloquent) player and for what it says about club and fans? Reckon we are lucky to gave secured his services, and we can just hope he comes to feel the same way about his time at Bradford. He's certainly impressed a lot of us so far.

And I would suggest it will be the final death knell in Seymour's coffin as well as me beginning to slightly doubt our head coaches stratagem.

He cops a lot of stick for various reasons but I know a lot of the younger supporters at Hull became big fans of his. He came over to the South Stand and handed over a pair of boots to a young lad following his last home league game for Hull. He got his confidence back at Hull and as you say it's refreshing to hear a player saying such things. Good luck to him (after tonight).

That's the first thing I thought - basically if Seymour doesnt play 7 tonight, that's it! As much as I think Seymour is rhubarb, I don't agree with PG's strategy. What does 1 game tell him last week that he/we didn't know? Surely he won't be on the bench, he either gives him another run with DH or bins him off (which is what they should have done last year).

Going back to his quote last year regarding playing folk out of position - I think Nicklas should have been given a go now he can play alongside a real organiser like Holdsworth. Bit less pressure for him. He was good enough this time last year according to PG.

I'm hoping tonights game answers the question, were we really that bad last week, or was it just leeds being excellent?

I wont be happy if Seymour gets dropped even to the bench. He needs to play with Holdsworth as theyre our half backs now. End of