Platt out to show Harrison what he's missing (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Platt out to show Harrison what he's missing

2:46pm Friday 9th March 2007 in

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Michael Platt admits the memory of being dumped by hometown Salford still hurts - especially finding out on the web.

The Bulls full back lines up against his former employers tomorrow having already proved they were wrong to let him go four years ago.

After spells at Rochdale and Castleford, pace ace Platt is showing genuine Super League class following his £10,000 move to Grattan Stadium.

But that hasn't helped ease the pain of being shown the door by his boyhood heroes.

"Salford messed me about a bit and left me in the lurch," he recalled.

"I was absolutely devastated. Salford were the only club I'd ever played for, my hometown team. I was 18 years old and they were letting me go, so I was gutted.

"We didn't leave on the best of terms and I wasn't happy with the club - I actually found out I'd been released by reading it on the internet!

"To be fair to them, it's worked out best for me now. I'm at a bigger club with Bradford and I'm really enjoying it here and looking forward to this match."

Current City Reds boss Karl Harrison was the man who released Platt after just 16 games.

The 22-year-old - who still lives in Salford - conceded: "I probably didn't play quite as well as I would have liked when I did get a chance there but I never played full back.

"He played me on the wing, which wasn't ideal.

"There's definitely a lot of fire in my belly for tomorrow - I got told Rhino (Harrison) was giving me a bit of stick on Sky the other night as well!"

Meanwhile, Platt has won the OPTA Player of the Month award having scored a hat-trick in the win at Warrington and dazzled on his debut against Huddersfield.

Platt's attacking qualities, such as clean breaks, metres made and tackle busts made him an obvious candidate but he isn't getting carried away.

"My first two games went well but I wasn't firing on all cylinders in the last two," he said.

"I'm pleased to get it but there's a lot of improvement to do and, like Steve McNamara says, OPTA doesn't mark you on every part of your game.

"You only get rewarded, you don't get punished by OPTA for things you don't do as well, like poor decisions and errors. Macca does that to me on a Monday morning!

"I know I need to improve my defence more than anything and as full back I want to make sure we're not conceding as many points."

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