We lost control, admits Orford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

For me the mistakes that happened in the game against the Wires are not too concerning, yes we made mistakes and didnt defend but they are quick fix areas with a bit of player swapping in the squad.
Not all doom and gloom for me but need to fix them up pritty quick.
Some good promising things also to take out of the game, watching the game on SLTV, the bulls were still in the game up to 60 mins then last 20 it went wrong.

Please, please, please, please, please...no more silly play during the Hull game! It would be nice to see us string an 80min performance together for a change.
Drop Worrincy, move Nero to the bench, Platt at Centre and replace Donaldson or Whitehead with Langley (if fit!). Reardon has practically been a spectator since round 1.

For me, this would be my starting line up.

Reardon
Halley
Platt
Sykes
Sheriffe
Kearney
Orford
Scruton
L'estrange
Lynch
Nero
Menzies
Langley

Godwin
Whitehead
Hall
Kopczak

Hate to leave out Donaldson as i think he has played well, and has a great future, but his time will come. We need more pace in the backs, which a Platt/Halley combination would provide (although defence would be a concern), and Nero would be more effective as a wide running 2nd rower. I like Halley but he is ineffective at FB, and is too small to break tackles. Reardon excelled there in the past, and can break tackles. He needs to get his hands on the ball more!!

On another note. Did anyone else watch Worrincey warm up at Warrington on the tackle bags? Pathetic!!! No effort whatsoever, compared to Donaldson. You can't really blame Worrincey for missing tackles in the match, he is who he is, and will probably not change. The blame lies with McNamara! He allows him to warm up/train that way and so it's no surprise he plays that way. He picked him, it's his fault!!

Realistically, we are a 6/7/8th place team at best. We just do not have the quality, especially in the backs to challenge this year. Sure, we will beat the top teams on occasion, but over the course of the season i can't see us challenging.

Hope i'm proved wrong!
COYB!!!!

As Ox says they need to show more respect for the ball but the problem is Worrincy is a liability, Sherriffe can't catch, Halley doesn't know when to pass or hold on, Nero can't pass or beat a man, and Sykes can't hold his position in defence and goes missing on attack too often. These are not youngsters and should have these skills.

Can these things really be addressed with this side or is the only option to sign 2 or three quality backs who know how to play the game?

BULLSHARK, you are completely spot on with everything you say - nothing else to say!

Adey wrote:
Please, please, please, please, please...no more silly play during the Hull game! It would be nice to see us string an 80min performance together for a change. Drop Worrincy, move Nero to the bench, Platt at Centre and replace Donaldson or Whitehead with Langley (if fit!). Reardon has practically been a spectator since round 1.

When Macca has a big enough fit squad he must drop Worrincy but I can not agree with the Reardon comment.The size of our squad is a problem & if we pick up many injuries we will be in deep trouble.

Cannot beleive that most on here are wanting to include Platt in our squad?? he is as bad at tackling as Worrency. if the bulls played platt and halley on one side we would get run over week in week out down that side.
Also people having a go at Halley, seem to remeber last year he was the best thing since sliced bread for most who post on here?? its simple he is not big enough full stop, cannot remeber a time that halley has broken the defensive line??? he will never be a webb or billy slater due to his build. he does an ok job for us and is pretty safe under most high balls.

bullybullman wrote:

Adey wrote:
Please, please, please, please, please...no more silly play during the Hull game! It would be nice to see us string an 80min performance together for a change. Drop Worrincy, move Nero to the bench, Platt at Centre and replace Donaldson or Whitehead with Langley (if fit!). Reardon has practically been a spectator since round 1.

When Macca has a big enough fit squad he must drop Worrincy but I can not agree with the Reardon comment.The size of our squad is a problem & if we pick up many injuries we will be in deep trouble.

Sorry, may not have been clear. I can count on one finger how many times Nero has passed the ball to Reardon. Now, Reardon is no slouch but running out of dummy half isn't his forte. He needs to stay wide and a centre that will create space for him. Nero may be solid defensively but, frankly, he's greedy. Alright if you're a backrower trudging the ball up, not so much if you're a centre designed to set your winger on his way. Platt may or may not be the answer but with his tendancy to pass at crazy times, he might just be what Reardon needs to get on the scoresheet.
You just sense that confidence in our back 3 is lacking. I think Halley & Reardon need to start getting on the scoresheet and fast.

My choice:
Halley
Reardon
Platt
Sykes
Sheriffe
Kearney
Orford
Scruton
L'Estrange
Lynch
Whitehead
Langley
Menzies
Godwin
Nero
Hall
Kopczak

haitch wrote:
As Ox says they need to show more respect for the ball but the problem is Worrincy is a liability, Sherriffe can't catch, Halley doesn't know when to pass or hold on, Nero can't pass or beat a man, and Sykes can't hold his position in defence and goes missing on attack too often. These are not youngsters and should have these skills. Can these things really be addressed with this side or is the only option to sign 2 or three quality backs who know how to play the game?

Well Haitch 6 games gone and the Bulls are 3 and 3. Lets look at the next 6 games Hull away defeat. Quinns at home win. Leeds away defeat. Crusaders at home win. Catalans away win. Hull K R at home win. If i am correct with my forecasts, that would leave the Bulls 7 and 5 from 12 games . I don't think the Bulls will improve there league position in the near future and changes need to be made. But Sykes and Platt in the centres.No no no !!!!!

kitman wrote:

haitch wrote: As Ox says they need to show more respect for the ball but the problem is Worrincy is a liability, Sherriffe can't catch, Halley doesn't know when to pass or hold on, Nero can't pass or beat a man, and Sykes can't hold his position in defence and goes missing on attack too often. These are not youngsters and should have these skills. Can these things really be addressed with this side or is the only option to sign 2 or three quality backs who know how to play the game?

Well Haitch 6 games gone and the Bulls are 3 and 3. Lets look at the next 6 games Hull away defeat. Quinns at home win. Leeds away defeat. Crusaders at home win. Catalans away win. Hull K R at home win. If i am correct with my forecasts, that would leave the Bulls 7 and 5 from 12 games . I don't think the Bulls will improve there league position in the near future and changes need to be made. But Sykes and Platt in the centres.No no no !!!!!

I tend to agree with your forecast, at least thats how it apears it will go but as I keep saying, the strange thing is if Bulls win at Hull they will have won 2 of the three games most thought they would get nothing from.
I still think they could finish 5 or 6 but there is no way they can beat the top sides to win anything with this back line. If the Bulls have a first half gainst Hull like they had at Wire
they just might be out of sight by Half Time. Wishful thinking but who knows?

I think that there is an awful lot of pessimism on this site!
We have won three out of the first six, this time last year we had won one and drawn one. Four of the games have been against teams who realistically should be in the top five (with the addition of Leeds).
The nucleus of the side have only played six competitive games in the Super League, and should realistically improve as the season progresses.
Even Macca must see that it should be a long time before Worrincey gets close to the team again.
I have n't seen any teams in the Super League that the Bulls at their best should n't be able to either beat or run close and this was a long way from being the case last season.
Its too early to be critical given the way that the Bulls should be able tp progress.
The time to judge the Bulls and Macca will be after the half way mark.

Agree with Ralphie, we need to have more optimism - we've beaten the league leaders and lost to 2nd, 3rd & 4th. 2nd half v Wigan & 1st half v Warrington we looked good - the combinations will improve and let's see where we are after a run of easier games

I am surprised Sykes is being described as poor. His tackling is very good and he does go forward. I think some people have an opinion on a player and just won't change whatever. I think he is doing fine. Halley was put at fullback due to Platt being awfull their. I also think Platt is much better at centre as he can actually tackle and does have pace. He also has a good pair of hands. He may just surprise some people. I have always thought of Reardon as F/B as he is a much more solid player. The problem is for Halley in some peoples eyes is that he isn't big and strong enough for F/B and not good enough at tackling as winger. If this is true, he has a problem at this level. Oh for another Mick Withers and nobody would be complaining. If we had him again, and possibly will one day, Halley would struggle to get a spot. Up to then we will have to make do. This is the problem this year. There are a few players who are simply making do until we can afford better or free up places. We do have a team capable of winning any game but will probably put in too many performances like last week due to the "OK" players we have.

Prycey, you talk a lot of sense and know your stuff which is clear - can you think of any reason why we as a club never seem to develop top class youngsters in the backs positions ? The young forwards all look promising but what would we give for a centre right now ?

how about

1. Reardon (let go in his prime)
2. Karl Pryce (let go too early)
3. Bridge
4. Atkins
5. Halley
6. Leon Pryce

Would you rather have this back line or the one we have now?

Prycey wrote:
I am surprised Sykes is being described as poor. His tackling is very good and he does go forward. I think some people have an opinion on a player and just won't change whatever. I think he is doing fine. Halley was put at fullback due to Platt being awfull their. I also think Platt is much better at centre as he can actually tackle and does have pace. He also has a good pair of hands. He may just surprise some people. I have always thought of Reardon as F/B as he is a much more solid player. The problem is for Halley in some peoples eyes is that he isn't big and strong enough for F/B and not good enough at tackling as winger. If this is true, he has a problem at this level. Oh for another Mick Withers and nobody would be complaining. If we had him again, and possibly will one day, Halley would struggle to get a spot. Up to then we will have to make do. This is the problem this year. There are a few players who are simply making do until we can afford better or free up places. We do have a team capable of winning any game but will probably put in too many performances like last week due to the "OK" players we have.

With you on the Sykes issue Prycey, I think he has done well for us this year and puts his heart into every tackle he makes, yes I know he does make the odd error (dont they all) but I think he more than makes up for it.

Nobody has mentioned on here for a while but for me we should have kept hold of John Rudd for a season, strong and powerful, good tackler and pretty quick for a big lad, pretty sure he would have kept Sheriffe out of the starting 17. Only have to watch him playing for London Irish to see what we missed!

macca has now to take a long look at his squad and sort out who's good enough and who's not.
warrency apart, i think the forwards can hold thier own against most.
the halves are also good enough, it's from there back the team is weak.
macca should now be able to see that halley is never going to be a fullback. The best F/B on the books i think is reardon.(M O M in grand final in that position). platt must be given a chance in centre,along with sykes. halley and sheriffe look like they are gong to be the best 2 wingers we've got , 3/4 line never going to be strong enough for bulls to make a serious challenge for honours though.

franklyn wrote:
macca has now to take a long look at his squad and sort out who's good enough and who's not. warrency apart, i think the forwards can hold thier own against most. the halves are also good enough, it's from there back the team is weak. macca should now be able to see that halley is never going to be a fullback. The best F/B on the books i think is reardon.(M O M in grand final in that position). platt must be given a chance in centre,along with sykes. halley and sheriffe look like they are gong to be the best 2 wingers we've got , 3/4 line never going to be strong enough for bulls to make a serious challenge for honours though.

Franklyn, you bring reasonable argument to the site. Sykes has scored some scintillating tries but he just isn't a Centre. He simply cannot hold his own against the best and has been exposed far too many times for club and country. With players of this quality Bulls will simply not compete when the business end of the season comes.

There is massive improvement this season with real quality in the forwards and halves and the Bulls will compete in the league this time if they continue to put in the vastly improved effort, but will they challenge when it matters with that 3/4 line. No!..... I might add I rate Sykes as the best of a rather ordinary set of backs.

rant and a rave wrote:
how about

1. Reardon (let go in his prime)
2. Karl Pryce (let go too early)
3. Bridge
4. Atkins
5. Halley
6. Leon Pryce

Would you rather have this back line or the one we have now?

No offence but I wouldn't have Karl Pryce given to us on a free transfer! The rest, maybe.

My point was, forward wise we seem to have a long line of youngsters coming through, Donaldson, Whitehead, Burgess X2, Olbison, Tate, Crossley etc
But where are the backs ? apart from Crookes we seem to somewhat lacking in talent

Yes maybe you're right, but the senior accademy are a good side so there must be some decent talent waiting for a chance! But we do seem to let an awful lot of our talented youngsters go!

Adey wrote:

rant and a rave wrote: how about 1. Reardon (let go in his prime) 2. Karl Pryce (let go too early) 3. Bridge 4. Atkins 5. Halley 6. Leon Pryce Would you rather have this back line or the one we have now?

No offence but I wouldn't have Karl Pryce given to us on a free transfer! The rest, maybe.

You're right, I was just grasping for another winger, I'll let you buy one to fill the gap!

haitch wrote:

franklyn wrote: macca has now to take a long look at his squad and sort out who's good enough and who's not. warrency apart, i think the forwards can hold thier own against most. the halves are also good enough, it's from there back the team is weak. macca should now be able to see that halley is never going to be a fullback. The best F/B on the books i think is reardon.(M O M in grand final in that position). platt must be given a chance in centre,along with sykes. halley and sheriffe look like they are gong to be the best 2 wingers we've got , 3/4 line never going to be strong enough for bulls to make a serious challenge for honours though.

Franklyn, you bring reasonable argument to the site. Sykes has scored some scintillating tries but he just isn't a Centre. He simply cannot hold his own against the best and has been exposed far too many times for club and country. With players of this quality Bulls will simply not compete when the business end of the season comes. There is massive improvement this season with real quality in the forwards and halves and the Bulls will compete in the league this time if they continue to put in the vastly improved effort, but will they challenge when it matters with that 3/4 line. No!..... I might add I rate Sykes as the best of a rather ordinary set of backs.

If sykes isn't a centre what is he? been tried at F/B for club and country without much success. don't have the pace for H/B. he's just the best of a bad bunch.
crookes seems to be the only back to get recognition from the junior ranks, so it looks like untill new signings are available were stuck with what we've got.
will be a struggle at hull next match, they have 1 or 2 match winners amongst thier backs.

Prycey wrote:
BULLSHARK, you are completely spot on with everything you say - nothing else to say!

Thank god for that. Your posts are factually correct but they don't half go on and on and on