Bradford Bulls prop Scruton confident of big improvement against Catalan Dragons (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls prop Nick Scruton confident of big improvement against Catalan Dragons

7:50am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Bulls By Ross Heppenstall

Nick Scruton, left, and James Donaldson tackle Hull’s Sam Moa in Sunday’s pre-season friendly at the KC Stadium

Nick Scruton has admitted the Bulls’ thumping defeat at Hull was a reality check but is confident they will be fully up to speed at home to Catalan Dragons this weekend.

Mick Potter’s men shipped nine tries during a chastening 46-6 defeat in Lee Radford’s testimonial at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

They were guilty of countless handling errors and, according to Scruton, lost the physical battle up front too.

The prop said: “I woke up on Monday morning and knew I’d been in a game.

“Their pack dominated us at times and showed us how to do it.

“Yes, it was a bit of a reality check.

You work hard all pre-season and rip into training and you think you’re flying. But you get a performance like that at Hull and it just shows where we are really

Nick Scruton

“You work hard all pre-season and rip into training and you think you’re flying. But you get a performance like that at Hull and it just shows where we are really.”

Nevertheless, Scruton is confident that his side can engineer a serious improvement in Sunday’s Super League opener.

He believes the Bulls can iron out those mistakes against Hull in training this week.

“We played Dewsbury the week previously but, no disrespect to them, we didn’t get a feel for where we are,” said Scruton.

“Dewsbury wasn’t such a physical game but Hull certainly was.

“Obviously it’s never good to lose like that but I’d prefer that in a pre-season friendly than have a little scrappy game where you don’t really get a feel for where you are.

“Now we know exactly what we need to work on and we’ll definitely be better for it this week against Catalan.

“We’ve trained hard so far this week and will continue to do so. I’m sure we can go and get that win. It’s going to be a tough season so we all need to dig in and show a bit of character.”

Last season, Scruton’s injury woes meant Bulls fans saw only patches of him at his marauding best.

An operation to repair ligament damage in his wrist forced him to miss the end of the season, and he also needed regular injections in his groin.

Having played against Dewsbury and Hull, Scruton said: “I’m just about fit now, although it was six months since I’d played a game before the Dewsbury friendly.

“I’m a yard off everything at the minute. I’m not where I want to be sharpness-wise but that match fitness will come.”

Scruton, meanwhile, admits he has been left hugely impressed by the impact of trialist Phil Joseph, who looks certain to be rewarded with a one-year deal.

Joseph has made his mark against Castleford, Dewsbury and Hull and Scruton said: “Phil has done a brilliant job for us.

“There is big competition now in the front row and that will keep us all on our toes.”

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