Finnigan vows to improve memories

6:40am Thursday 1st May 2008

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Bulls ace Simon Finnigan has his own painful Millennium Magic memory to erase this weekend.

He was not even a Bradford player when they suffered that controversial loss to Leeds Rhinos last May.

But it wasn't only the Bulls miffed in Cardiff - the Aussie forward played for a Salford side embarrassed 50-18 by Warrington.

"We were in a bad position at that time and that loss didn't help us," recalled Finnigan.

"Warrington scored some woeful tries, like straight from the kick-off, and then we went away to France and a similar thing happened against Catalans.

"On the Monday morning after that we got told at training Karl Harrison had been sacked."

Salford's match was directly before the Bulls' clash but Finnigan did not hang around to witness the agonising events unfold as two famous refereeing gaffes gifted Rhinos a last-second victory.

"We didn't even go to the players' bar - if there is one, I don't know - as we got straight on to the bus and back to the hotel," he explained.

"It was awful and I don't want to come away with the same feeling again this time. I've some bad memories of Cardiff and that's something I want to change come Saturday night."

The great derby rivals meet once more in the Millennium Stadium, with Finnigan now an established Bull following his switch from relegated Salford.

Although not picked for the season's opening match, the energetic back-rower quickly forced his way into Steve McNamara's squad and has played every fixture since.

He has become an integral part of the squad with his tireless tackling and some excellent support play that has profited five tries already.

Finnigan was a driving force again as the Bulls defeated Wigan last Sunday, a victory he hopes will leave them in good stead to overturn the Super League leaders.

The former Widnes man said: "I think we're starting to hit a bit of form. We got a good result and performance against Wigan where we controlled most areas of the game. It was pleasing to do that and now we need to kick on.

"We're playing another good side in Leeds, who put one over us earlier in the year. If we don't control that ruck area we'll end up on the end of a similar result but we're pretty confident we will."

Finnigan had to depart early when Leeds hammered the Bulls 44-2 at Headingley over Easter and is relishing a proper chance to get stuck into them this time around.

"I was looking forward to that - my first Bradford-Leeds derby, a big crowd and I was excited by it all but I got a bang on the hip and had to come off," recalled 26-year-old Finnigan.

"Thinking about it, I've not got the fondest memories of Cardiff or Leeds and I'm due a bit of luck with both of them!

"I'm happy with my form though and enjoying the role I'm playing. I'm coming off the bench, getting pretty good game-time and I'm pleased with the performances I've been putting in.

"While there's plenty I can still improve on, and I'm working on that with the coaches here, I am pleased at the moment and really looking forward to Leeds."

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