Matthew Elliott will scour the overseas market as he looks to bolster his squad following yesterday's retirement of Danny Peacock.

The decision by the Aussie centre leaves the Bulls with a free space free on their quota but Elliott admits that at this stage in this season shopping abroad may be easier said than done.

"I will be having a look at things obviously but when I was planning for this season we did not expect Danny to be available until mid-way through the campaign," said Elliott. "The fact that he came back so soon was a huge bonus."

But the Bulls could be spared further expense if close season recruit Nick Zisti can start to produce the form which made him an Odsal recruit for three years prior to his arrival from Cronulla in December.

"I was very pleased with Nick's performance in the Alliance side last week and it is time for him to show what he is capable of.

"It is always difficult for overseas players to settle into a new country and a new team.

"Nick started quite well but his confidence has clearly taken a knock. He is probably just one good run or try away from getting it back."

Zisti may get his chance on Sunday at Gateshead Thunder as Tevita Vaikona struggles to overcome a niggling groin injury.

"Tevita's recent performances have been restricted by the injury but it is not something which needs surgery.

"He may need a rest this weekend although we should have a better idea when the squad reports back for training tomorrow."

Bernard Dywer is still absent after knee surgery but he is expected to come into contention for the tussle with reigning champions Wigan at Odsal on Saturday week.

Gateshead captain Kerrod Walters, the former Australian Test hooker, will miss Sunday's match as he continues to hold a bedside vigil for his injured wife.

Walters flew to Thailand on Sunday, pulling out of the Thunder's match at Wigan, after learning that his wife had been involved in a car accident while on holiday in Phuket.

lA late scoring burst against the Challenge Cup winners last night gave Salford a glimmer of hope in their search for their first Super League win of 1999.

The Reds were already certain of equalling the worst-ever start to a Super League campaign when they trailed 38-6 after 58 minutes of last night's match against Leeds Rhinos at the Willows.

But classy stand-off Steve Blakeley turned a likely rout into a respectable defeat with a superb solo performance that brought his side to within a couple of scores of their visitors at 38-30.

Blakeley had scored the game's first try after only four minutes and he sparked a late purple patch by carving out further touchdowns for Craig Makin, Mark Johnson and Hudson Smith in addition to kicking all five of his goal attempts.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.