I WAS reflecting on our record result against West Wales Raiders and was reminded that as with any lifecycle, it inevitably starts with defeat – some of them heavy.

It’s a necessary part of the building process when you look at a new club or even a new business.

Plenty of people will face tough situations in starting a new project or venture.

The challenge comes when the unexpected strikes and you face unchartered adversity. It will be tough. As most clubs including the Bulls have had to endure. West Wales Raiders are no different.

No one likes seeing one-sided results, but I saw two positives from the weekend.

The players who played for the Welsh team in last week’s game against a red-hot Bulls outfit, will undoubtedly have a determination to not want to experience such a difficult 80 minutes ever again in their playing careers – they will have left with a determination and a resolve to build on their experiences.

Secondly, the sheer speed, power and skill being displayed by the Bulls will send a stark warning to all teams we face.

What an exciting attacking brand of rugby league this playing group is capable of – weather permitting! The decision-making in the halves was excellent, and as our head coach has consistently said, we will only continue to get better.

Certainly with Joe Keyes, Dane Chisholm and Elliot Minchella probing to attack, it will give our competitors plenty to ponder.

This is what is possible when you take the raw talents of young exciting players and combine it with the coaching smarts of John Kear. The desire to attack from anywhere, and read the opportunities unfolding must be thoroughly applauded.

I’ve heard plenty of very positive feedback about the game and about the dogged determination of the Welsh boys to keep digging in.

Our game certainly needs to encourage exciting attacking entertainment.

One of the challenges the entire game faces is the slow ruck, grapple/wrestle that has crept in like a weed.

Many of the Super League games now are so slow and boring it’s probably time to be thinking about what rule changes are needed to reward real attacking flair and also tough defensive athleticism. Coaches tend to analyse and copy each other’s successes, and you can certainly see the sanitised NRL influences emerging across the sport.

Maybe additional points could be earned for scoring long range tries, for example tries that originate from a play not involving a kick beyond halfway, might be worth six or five points and not four.

We might allow the shoulder charge back or limit the tackle to only two players.

There’s nothing more exciting than seeing Sonny Bill Williams ironing out attackers with his trademark shoulder charge mega-hits, or Sam Burgess flattening the opposition like he’s been fired from a tank.

Not everyone will agree and I’m sure the keyboards will be cracking about player welfare, but let’s see what the experts think, and of course most importantly, let’s understand what the fans want to see.

We need to continue to evolve and grow as a sport.

But the reality is that for rugby league (indeed any sport) to grow, you need to invest in participation from grass roots to the high performance end of the pathway. It’s something every sport will aspire to, but of course these are long-run strategies, that require a solid strategic vision and strategic plan, matched with an operational and funding plan to help deliver it.

The RFL indeed has a strategic plan (57 pages for you keen scholars of the game), and like all plans, they need to be thoroughly reviewed and performance measured against the targets.

The RFL strategic plan in fact calls for a review in 2018. I would seriously doubt that Wigan boss Ian Lenagan and those wanting more control and funding have ever read this important strategy document. Yet it formed an important part of the investment commitments agreed to by all clubs at the time of the 2014 media rights renewal.

The game indeed has a very clear plan.

In my opinion, those Super League clubs who are attempting to seize more control of rugby league in this country from the governing body can’t throw a few slides and headings on the projector, and cry “follow me to the promised land” and expect to have a tsunami of clubs follow (regardless of how big Santa’s sack promises to be). Such an idea will not ever succeed.

The governing body must govern the sport – not the rich Super League clubs. The vast majority of clubs support the RFL fulfilling this role, including last year’s champions Leeds Rhinos led by rugby league guru Gary Hetherington.

Some of these rich club owners have never played the game – and never heard the sound of the kids’ sprigs on the concrete. This will always be a weakness in their understanding of the importance of investing in participation and pathways.

Back to our League One adventure, where our friends from London Scholars visit Odsal tomorrow. It will be an interesting battle, as I understand from CEO Mark Croston that Ian Lenagan is becoming an investor in London Skolars.

We all know that means expect an avalanche of new loan players to pour onto the field, looking to knock us off the top of the table.

All’s fair in love, war and rugby league. Expect a torrid affair, and forget about any past results – every game is a new encounter, complete with different challenges. We expect them to come all guns blazing from the get-go.

We will find out who the competition players are just before kick-off. Let’s drown them out from the terraces. Bring the flags, drums and your singing voices, as we continue our journey towards redemption.

Support your Bradford Bulls team, and join the Saturday stampede to Odsal at 3pm. Don’t forget our free barbecue for all fans after full-time, and for the kids to join in our own version of British bulldog (called bull rush) on the field, to win prizes and giveaways.

Please come and join the club and players on what will be a Super Saturday at Odsal Stadium.