I think next week we just need to match Rovers' pack in the early stages and they'll blow themselves away. If we deal with Paea and Mika well we should see them off and start punching holes as they tire, they're struggling to play for 80 minutes so far this season. Have a feeling from Sandercock's smalltime obsession with beating us they might go all out for it from the off and then run out of steam. We also have the better back line IMO.

why should we be worried? our forward stats are amongst the best in league! reason we are 2nd. not ideal ogre n moa being out but no need to worry about rovers. we ain't as big but more mobile and got loads more minutes in us. wouldn't swap. there's a reason they keep getting their ass'es handed to em in the last 15 mins in games-they're TOO big

Speaking of forwards, is Mike Burnett out injured at the moment ?

Thought Lynchy was awesome for you tonight aswell.

It's what you come to expect from him every game though. The man defines the term workhorse and he's a really nice bloke too.

I was talking to ex Salford prop Ray Cashmere in the gym on wednesday and asked which SL players he rated highly and the first name he said was Andy Lynch.

Had bad back,i got told last night he will be available for selection on friday if needed.

What a fantastic bit of business that was.

Yeah he was immense last night. Great play to set up the first try too.

They can run riot all they want. Pointless when our back can't defend for .

Hey Guys

I have to admit im a little worried about the Derby and our very tough run of games.

I know Rovers got done last night but according to some good Rovers friends there pack blew Hudds away and despite recent years having a massive pack they now have a more agile pack now like ours at the moment. I hope Pitts come in and does a job but its a bit early to expect too much and i would be a little upset if its at the expense of Bowden who with more games will just get better!

Moa will be a big boost if we can get him fit but not worth riskng with our tough run coming up

I was impressed however how we coped last night with the pack injurys and i could be just a little nervous like i always am before the derby.

What do you think would be a decent return from our upcoming games?

Im predicting

Rovers (H) Win
Hudd (A) Loss
Hudd (H) Loss
Wigan (H) Win
Leeds (H) Win (my heart says win but im not sure)

Rob

Moa isn't injured.

Sorry brain fart , it is 7am and hungover



Still would not rush him back in till 100% mentally however cant see him being back anyway

I think rovers will probably beat us on Friday but not too worried about it. We're at the start of a massive overhaul at the club and whilst we will have some fun in 2012, realistically we're not going to challenge for trophies. This year is about turning things around, bringing through some young players and putting the foundations in place for years to come.

Whilst I am not one to get too carried away and I am certainly not overly confident like some, I think one or two on here are forgetting a few things.
I the Heatherington Agar era we expected to beat Rovers. They were new to SL and our lesser neighbours. Agar was totally unable to appreciate what it meant to us fans and imo failed miserably to get the players up for it. Part of the its just 2 competition points syndrome. Similar to his record in play offs and CC matches. There certainly wasn't any pressure on him to deliver the result we as fans wanted.
What we have now is a CEO / owner who fully appreciates exactly what the Derby means to us and a coach who is under pressure to deliver. I don't mean this as him facing the chop if he losses, but hopefully you appreciate what I am saying.
We also have on the coaching side of things Radders who will instil that belief and desire that we have to beat Rovers.
Add into the pot a few youngsters from Hull who have massiv futures ahead of them who hav probably dreamt of the opportunity to play full first grade derby matches and I am sure that this will see us through regardless of the injury situation.
Morgan and Hudge were masters of getting the best out of their squads for Derby matches. I predict that we have the equal of that now. A good focusedweek in training without any distractions inc hair cuts and bleachings and I am quietly confident that we will have a further 2 points banked come Friday afternoon and sit top of the league for a few hours at least. All following a great performance by our young mobile pack and its leaders Lynch and Houghton. Not to mention the best second row pairing in SL.
Bring it on.

And a massive part in the 2nd try. When O'Carroll was pushing up with him you could tell Bradford were concerned about Lynch's passing game.

Spot On Jake

Exactly my thoughts

The last 4 years of having clueless Agar in charge of us I was always worried about getting beat by Rovers because Agar couldn't motivate us at all to beat them, plus of the dire rugby we played and I think that's stuck with me a little. I'm still worried that they'll up their game against us plus us missing key players (got a feeling Wade might miss the game aswell).
But we have a quality coach now in Gentle who has proved he knows what he's doing and doesn't have one gameplan.

lets hope Moa and Wade are back for the game, then I will be alot more comfortable in getting the win.

It is going to be a big effort for the pack again on Friday, but IMO our kicking game can help the pack out massively.

if we keep kicking and turning Rovers round, their big '10 minute wonder' forwards will be knackered after 60mins.

Jay Pitts coming in should help, as can Yeaman, who controversially I may put on the bench and bring on at 2nd row (Turner is playing well at centre)

anyone know what day Moa went home and if he is likely to come back?

With Kent looking good last night, would anyone else be tempted to move Aspinwall up to prop (until we get O'Meley/Moa back), Whiting starting at 13 and Kent on the bench to interchange at 13.

Something like

Lynch
Houghton
Aspinwall
Manu
Tickle
Whiting

O'Carroll
Bowden
Kent

Is Whiting ok. He was really struggling last night before he went off

Gentle never mentioned anything about it in his post-match interview so I figure that he must be okay.

I hope so we need as many fit bodies as possible for next weekend

Gentle said it was too early to tell.

Rovers big forwards gave us trouble in the friendly but now the coaching team has seen them a few times hopefully we will have a game plan to try and dent that. I never like going into the derby as the favourite.

Turner came on for Yeaman at Saints and he played against Widnes and Cas and Bradford he had
4 good games I would still play him at against Rovers .Why change the backs unless players get hurt .The lad scored a great try against Saints and Cas and last night put Briscoe in for his try with a good pass plus his defense had improved .He is putting some big hits in.Let Yeaman get fitter and wait his turn to get back into the team