Halley: Improvement is No 1 priority (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Dave rightly recognises he is not yet the finished article but on the way. He needs to up his defence against big forwards and not play so far back 'in the pocket', often 70 metres behind the play. Two more realistic role models than Robbie Paul would be Brent Webb and Brett Hodgson, who both play above their weight.

Good luck dave!
many people seem to think bulls have recruited well, but i'm not so sure. There are a lot of if's and but's about a lot of bulls signings. two coming back from long term injuries, a hooker who admit's in this weeks T&A that he's played 2nd fiddle with all his former clubs. the famous danny sculthorpe who's flit around s/l and been unable to hold down a regular first team spot anywhere.
even nic scruton was let go by leeds because he could not get a regular starting spot.
Nobody hopes more than me that my fears are wrong, but we wont know until the season starts for real with S/L.

franklyn wrote:
Good luck dave! many people seem to think bulls have recruited well, but i'm not so sure. There are a lot of if's and but's about a lot of bulls signings. two coming back from long term injuries, a hooker who admit's in this weeks T&A that he's played 2nd fiddle with all his former clubs. the famous danny sculthorpe who's flit around s/l and been unable to hold down a regular first team spot anywhere. even nic scruton was let go by leeds because he could not get a regular starting spot. Nobody hopes more than me that my fears are wrong, but we wont know until the season starts for real with S/L.

I think Scruton stood up well in the latter half of last season. Most signings take a while to bed in anyway...but he's got plenty of grit. There's no doubt the Bulls have recruited well, Orford is a class act, Reardon is a good player when he's on the pitch, Kearney the same. Hall & Le'Strange are solid signings and know what it takes to win a final...plenty of positives there.
One thing is for certain, the depth relies heavily on our academy products this season...Donaldson, Whitehead, Hyde, Crossley will no doubt be called up at some point and it's sink or swim time. There were cries to try the kids last season...next season we have no choice!

Adey wrote:

franklyn wrote: Good luck dave! many people seem to think bulls have recruited well, but i'm not so sure. There are a lot of if's and but's about a lot of bulls signings. two coming back from long term injuries, a hooker who admit's in this weeks T&A that he's played 2nd fiddle with all his former clubs. the famous danny sculthorpe who's flit around s/l and been unable to hold down a regular first team spot anywhere. even nic scruton was let go by leeds because he could not get a regular starting spot. Nobody hopes more than me that my fears are wrong, but we wont know until the season starts for real with S/L.

I think Scruton stood up well in the latter half of last season. Most signings take a while to bed in anyway...but he's got plenty of grit. There's no doubt the Bulls have recruited well, Orford is a class act, Reardon is a good player when he's on the pitch, Kearney the same. Hall & Le'Strange are solid signings and know what it takes to win a final...plenty of positives there. One thing is for certain, the depth relies heavily on our academy products this season...Donaldson, Whitehead, Hyde, Crossley will no doubt be called up at some point and it's sink or swim time. There were cries to try the kids last season...next season we have no choice!

Depth should always come from young players and not journeymen like Worrincy, Finnigan and Feather etc. When you have thee types in your squad you're less likley to give the young players the game time they need to develop because you've already got a steady pro there.

Well, the secret is clear. Prove that Bradford will give their academy lads the chance now and build a team from there...then when more young lads come thru and the big clubs come calling...make this club the one that gives them more than a 50/50 chance to build a career

Yes, it is time to promote the youngsters. I'm glad Halley is showing the right attitude - he could be a geat player with great speed and defense splitting accuracy with that long and accurate pass.
I hope we more of Worrincy too at 23 years, (24 in Feb 10) he still has time to make it as a high flyer. Maybe, he needs to be more reliable and confident defensively. He should take leaf out of Donaldson's book, he's an excellent tackler.

revjtb wrote:
Yes, it is time to promote the youngsters. I'm glad Halley is showing the right attitude - he could be a geat player with great speed and defense splitting accuracy with that long and accurate pass. I hope we more of Worrincy too at 23 years, (24 in Feb 10) he still has time to make it as a high flyer. Maybe, he needs to be more reliable and confident defensively. He should take leaf out of Donaldson's book, he's an excellent tackler.

The difference between Donaldson and Worrincy is one is a smart player and the other one isn't.

If Platt had a brain in that huge melon then he'd be dangerous, same with Worrincy, because they have the physical qualities.

Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote:

revjtb wrote: Yes, it is time to promote the youngsters. I'm glad Halley is showing the right attitude - he could be a geat player with great speed and defense splitting accuracy with that long and accurate pass. I hope we more of Worrincy too at 23 years, (24 in Feb 10) he still has time to make it as a high flyer. Maybe, he needs to be more reliable and confident defensively. He should take leaf out of Donaldson's book, he's an excellent tackler.

The difference between Donaldson and Worrincy is one is a smart player and the other one isn't. If Platt had a brain in that huge melon then he'd be dangerous, same with Worrincy, because they have the physical qualities.

No one using his/her brain would insult people the way you do. So it's quite possible to say the same things about your judgement. We all have our limitations, yours seems to be a lack of respect for others.

haitch wrote:

Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote:

revjtb wrote: Yes, it is time to promote the youngsters. I'm glad Halley is showing the right attitude - he could be a geat player with great speed and defense splitting accuracy with that long and accurate pass. I hope we more of Worrincy too at 23 years, (24 in Feb 10) he still has time to make it as a high flyer. Maybe, he needs to be more reliable and confident defensively. He should take leaf out of Donaldson's book, he's an excellent tackler.

The difference between Donaldson and Worrincy is one is a smart player and the other one isn't. If Platt had a brain in that huge melon then he'd be dangerous, same with Worrincy, because they have the physical qualities.

No one using his/her brain would insult people the way you do. So it's quite possible to say the same things about your judgement. We all have our limitations, yours seems to be a lack of respect for others.

I respect anybody that I feel is deserving of my respect. Because they play rugby for the Bradford Bulls doesn't mean they automatically have it.

Say whatever you like about my judgement Haitch, it's not often I'm wrong.

haitch, smfts, always has to have last word on anything. he may or may not be right but what ever happens, he'll claim he said it first. see my post re what KEARNEY said smfts says it won't happen. either he's an insider dealer or clairvoyant or just plain pig headed, i go along with the latter.

anyway, going off line after today, travelling to other side of oz, perth, by trains, planes and automobiles, could make a great film. back in new year to uk. see you later, may even come down your way, sounds like a name for a radio programme.

Hi Viking. So you'll be exchanging the VB for Swan..another Aussie 'cracker'!! It's a lot of years since I was in Perth but a great place..Enjoy!!

Steve Mac for the Sack. wrote:

Adey wrote:

franklyn wrote: Good luck dave! many people seem to think bulls have recruited well, but i'm not so sure. There are a lot of if's and but's about a lot of bulls signings. two coming back from long term injuries, a hooker who admit's in this weeks T&A that he's played 2nd fiddle with all his former clubs. the famous danny sculthorpe who's flit around s/l and been unable to hold down a regular first team spot anywhere. even nic scruton was let go by leeds because he could not get a regular starting spot. Nobody hopes more than me that my fears are wrong, but we wont know until the season starts for real with S/L.

I think Scruton stood up well in the latter half of last season. Most signings take a while to bed in anyway...but he's got plenty of grit. There's no doubt the Bulls have recruited well, Orford is a class act, Reardon is a good player when he's on the pitch, Kearney the same. Hall & Le'Strange are solid signings and know what it takes to win a final...plenty of positives there. One thing is for certain, the depth relies heavily on our academy products this season...Donaldson, Whitehead, Hyde, Crossley will no doubt be called up at some point and it's sink or swim time. There were cries to try the kids last season...next season we have no choice!

Depth should always come from young players and not journeymen like Worrincy, Finnigan and Feather etc. When you have thee types in your squad you're less likley to give the young players the game time they need to develop because you've already got a steady pro there.

i agree depth should come from young players. but remember! dave halley would not have been at bradford last season but for a long injury list to what steve mac reconed was his first choice squad. it was injuries not his form that brought him back to bulls and all credit to the lad, he took his chance with both hands and won player of the year. I do believe though that but for those injuries in the bulls squad halley would have been taken full time to wakefield and lost to the bulls.

Things can only Go one qway GumBoot! DOWN! LOL