Bradford Bulls: We played like a team of Under-12s, blasts Elima (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls: We played like a team of Under-12s, blasts Olivier Elima

8:00am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Sport By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Omar Khan was given a rapturous welcome when the new Bulls owner was introduced to the Odsal crowd before kick-off but the fans had little to cheer on the pitch following a 13-try annihilation

Olivier Elima surveyed the wreckage of the Bulls’ 70-6 defeat to Hull FC and admitted they had played like a bunch of kids.

The Bulls’ hopes of making the play-offs for the first time in four years were dealt a crushing and potentially fatal blow after the visitors ran in 13 tries.

Hull-bound winger Jason Crookes put Mick Potter’s men ahead in the second minute but Ben Jeffries was sin-binned soon after and the visitors never looked back.

It was Bradford’s record Super League defeat and came just 24 hours after a change of ownership was announced, with the deal set to be ratified by the RFL early this week.

Elima, who has lined up a move to Catalan Dragons, said: “We had a bit of positive news on Friday, even though it’s not official yet, but on the pitch we played like a team of under-12s.

“Wakefield have an easier finish than us and it’s out of our hands now but it’s not over yet.

“If we’d not had six points deducted we would be in the play-offs already. But certain people at the club haven’t done their jobs properly and we’ve been punished on the pitch.”

Bryn Hargreaves is another player who will leave Odsal and is expected to make a formal announcement on his future this week.

The prop blasted the RFL and those he felt were responsible for the Bulls’ financial crisis which resulted in administration and a six-point deduction.

Hargreaves said: “I think this was the result that the RFL would have wanted.

“It’s an absolute disgrace what has happened here this year and people at the RFL and behind the scenes at Bradford need to look at themselves. I’m not going to name names but the lack of communication and respect for us as players has been insulting and degrading throughout the whole process. The RFL gave the club a licence and then just months later the club reveal its in the midst of a financial crisis.

“There are supposed to be checks in place to avoid this kind of thing happening. It’s been hugely damaging for the sport.”

The future of Potter, his coaching staff and several more players could be announced this week, with a huge raft of departures seemingly inevitable.

Meanwhile, Bulls duo Luke Gale and Tom Burgess have been included in a 29-man England Knights squad as they prepare to face Ireland and Scotland in the Alitalia Cup commencing next month.

The Bulls Under-20s side won 26-22 against Hull FC at Odsal on Saturday with tries from Nick Scruton , Jack Cockerham, Danny Addy and Cain Southernwood, who also kicked five goals.

The Under-18s beat the Black and Whites 40-20 in Humberside yesterday courtesy of a fine performance from stand-off Liam Darville.