Kearney thrilled to be back on ball (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Kearney thrilled to be back on ball
6:40am Saturday 26th December 2009 in Sport By Connor Murphy, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Brett Kearney, right, is set to play in an unfamiliar role at Castleford
An unfamiliar half-back pairing is providing plenty of intrigue for Bulls fans ahead of today’s scheduled trip to Castleford.
In the absence of new scrum half Matt Orford, Steve McNamara has been forced to try something different for his side’s first trial game.
Earmarked to play stand-off next season, Brett Kearney will instead fill the gap at No 7, with Orford not due in the country until the first week of January.
Lining up alongside him will be 19-year-old academy star Danny Addy, an impressive performer in the under-18s side that narrowly missed out on a place in the Gillette Academy Championship Grand Final last season.
Highly rated by everyone at the club, the coaching staff are keen to see how Addy deals with the step up, while handing Kearney extra play-making responsibility.
Kearney has also filled in at scrum half during training and has enjoyed the somewhat unfamiliar role.
“It’s a bit tough not having Matty over here because he’s going to play that half-back role for us,” said the former Cronulla star.
“But at the moment I’ve been moving in and playing there, so it’s good for me because I’m getting on the ball more often.
“Especially after having a year out with injury, I’ve enjoyed getting on the ball and getting my touch back.
“I’ve been put in as the man on the spot and I’ve had to make the calls, so it’s been good getting straight into it rather than easing my way in.
“It should help me working with Matty when he comes over too.”
A new centre partnership will also be tried at The Jungle in the absence of Chris Nero and Paul Sykes.
McNamara is keen not to risk Nero as he recovers from a shoulder injury, while Sykes is not yet up to full speed after returning to pre-season training late due to England commitments.
In their absence, Michael Platt gets a chance to pick up where he left off at the tail-end of last season and 19-year-old academy product Jason Crookes is given the chance to impress after missing much of last year with a knee ligament injury.
Up front, Heath L’Estrange was an automatic choice to start with Wayne Godwin not yet fully fit following a knee operation.
Youngsters Elliott Whitehead and James Donaldson team up in the back row with Jamie Langley still recovering after shoulder surgery and Steve Menzies not risked.
Craig Kopczak was also ruled out as he continues rehab’ on the knee ligament injury suffered in Wales’ October clash with England.
Comments(8)
woodybenwood
says...
4:59pm Sat 26 Dec 09
Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote:who scored the tries today???
Some good performances today. Donaldson has grown a lot. Burgess boys looked real good.
mumbyfan
says...
8:21pm Sat 26 Dec 09
Cant remember who got the others in the second half....
L'Estrange looked good at acting half got the ball away quicky than Newton, Hall / Scruton looked solid and Kearney looks the part also.
However Donaldson was very good, looks like another Forshaw at loose forward..
Steve Mac for the Sack.
says...
11:37pm Sat 26 Dec 09
woodybenwood wrote:Halley,Whitehead, Straughier, Horton x2
Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote: Some good performances today. Donaldson has grown a lot. Burgess boys looked real good.who scored the tries today???
pontebull
says...
10:59am Sun 27 Dec 09
The thing that annoyed me most was the time of the pitch inspection. On the Cas website it announced that the game had been put back to 2pm with the inspection at 12.00.
I logged on at 12.30 to find out that the game was kicking off at 1.00
Good job I only lived 20 mins away from the ground, anyway rant over with.
I was very impressed with the team, both the regulars and the acadamy players took to the game with grit.
I was very impressed with the 3 aussies and younger ones showed a lot of potential.
I for one can't wait fot the season to start if this game is a sign of things to come
COYB
Steve Mac for the Sack.
says...
11:42am Sun 27 Dec 09
pontebull wrote:I thought the game kicked off at 12, I had to get off the bus in Kippax for a whizz coz I was proper busting, so rushed about getting a taxi only to find out it was a 1 o clock bloomin kickoff. I'd have walked down to Cas from Kippax an all, coz it turned out it wasnt even far at all.
A great game of rugby despite the weather conditions. The thing that annoyed me most was the time of the pitch inspection. On the Cas website it announced that the game had been put back to 2pm with the inspection at 12.00. I logged on at 12.30 to find out that the game was kicking off at 1.00 Good job I only lived 20 mins away from the ground, anyway rant over with. I was very impressed with the team, both the regulars and the acadamy players took to the game with grit. I was very impressed with the 3 aussies and younger ones showed a lot of potential. I for one can't wait fot the season to start if this game is a sign of things to come COYB
pontebull
says...
1:20pm Sun 27 Dec 09
Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote:omg, must have cost a fortune. it would have cost me 25.00 from Hemsworth to Cas.
pontebull wrote: A great game of rugby despite the weather conditions. The thing that annoyed me most was the time of the pitch inspection. On the Cas website it announced that the game had been put back to 2pm with the inspection at 12.00. I logged on at 12.30 to find out that the game was kicking off at 1.00 Good job I only lived 20 mins away from the ground, anyway rant over with. I was very impressed with the team, both the regulars and the acadamy players took to the game with grit. I was very impressed with the 3 aussies and younger ones showed a lot of potential. I for one can't wait fot the season to start if this game is a sign of things to come COYBI thought the game kicked off at 12, I had to get off the bus in Kippax for a whizz coz I was proper busting, so rushed about getting a taxi only to find out it was a 1 o clock bloomin kickoff. I'd have walked down to Cas from Kippax an all, coz it turned out it wasnt even far at all.
Was it worth the taxi fare ? I think it possibly was
Hope you enjoyed it
Steve Mac for the Sack.
says...
2:01pm Sun 27 Dec 09
pontebull wrote:Well it wasn't to bad to be honest, and I expected it to be inflated given it was boxing day. £12 it was.
Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote:omg, must have cost a fortune. it would have cost me 25.00 from Hemsworth to Cas. Was it worth the taxi fare ? I think it possibly was Hope you enjoyed itpontebull wrote: A great game of rugby despite the weather conditions. The thing that annoyed me most was the time of the pitch inspection. On the Cas website it announced that the game had been put back to 2pm with the inspection at 12.00. I logged on at 12.30 to find out that the game was kicking off at 1.00 Good job I only lived 20 mins away from the ground, anyway rant over with. I was very impressed with the team, both the regulars and the acadamy players took to the game with grit. I was very impressed with the 3 aussies and younger ones showed a lot of potential. I for one can't wait fot the season to start if this game is a sign of things to come COYBI thought the game kicked off at 12, I had to get off the bus in Kippax for a whizz coz I was proper busting, so rushed about getting a taxi only to find out it was a 1 o clock bloomin kickoff. I'd have walked down to Cas from Kippax an all, coz it turned out it wasnt even far at all.
It was worth it to get to the game what I thought was on time I guess. yeah it was a good day, good to be back at the rugger.
I t was mad though, the local cab house was closed, then we went in the coap for a phone no, they said 1 hour, we finally got one at 1150, 10 mins to ground. lool, and it was late kick off.
click2find
Steve Mac for the Sack. says...
4:47pm Sat 26 Dec 09