Stuart Fielden isn't blaming the Bulls' worst ever start to a Super League season entirely on their defence.

"It's not all down to that, although it is a big factor," said the Great Britain prop.

Attempting to explain a playing record of four wins and five defeats, Fielden added: "Individually we are doing things in a match that we just aren't doing in practice, and that is why I would say that it is only 70 per cent down to our defence.

"But even last year our defence wasn't that great. It has just got worse this year."

And the statistics back Fielden up. The Bulls are conceding 27.44 points a game on average so far this season, whereas last season their regular-season average was 20.17 points a game, and in 2003 it was 18.89.

However, Fielden also reckons that the Engage Super League is getting more like Australia's NRL.

"Not in intensity, but in the ability of the lower teams in the league to beat the higher ones."

Leigh Centurions, for example, who hadn't won in their first seven matches, beat London Broncos 24-22 at the Coliseum.

And you can also count Widnes Vikings' 31-22 home win over the Bulls as a major shock.

But no three results illustrate the topsy-turvy nature of Super League X better than London Broncos defeating Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 72-8 at Griffin Park, only for Wakefield to then shock Leeds 44-28, and for the Rhinos to rebound by defeating the Broncos 64-6, also at Headingley.

Fielden isn't worried by any lack of team spirit within the Bulls though, despite their surprisingly poor start.

He said: "It might be a shock to some of the younger lads but not to some of the older lads, myself included.

"If I was young I might feel like 'hanging' myself for a week if things go wrong, but when you have played a hundred or 200 games you are more used to setbacks and you know there is always next week to try and put things right."