Bradford Bulls were today trying to pick up the pieces after another shattering night of injuries further dented their hopes of a successful defence of the Super League crown.

A 38-4 defeat by Wigan at Central Park was a bad blow for confidence but coach Matthew Elliott was reeling more from news that influential hooker James Lowes may miss the rest of the season after being rushed to hospital at half-time suffering from concussion.

Probable hooking deputy Bernard Dwyer is also a major concern with a shoulder injury while his second-row partner Mike Forshaw has ankle trouble.

"Jimmy is in real bad shape," said Elliott . "He will definitely be out for two or three weeks and I fear the medical staff will say he will have the rest of the year off. He was drifting in and out of consciousness in the dressing room and he is a worry.

"Anybody who plays hooker, please apply within.

"I don't like complaining about injuries but only one of my six substitutions was tactical and that was Harvey Howard. I kept trying to get him back on but players kept falling over with injuries."

While the Bulls place in the Grand Final series was virtually guaranteed by London Broncos' defeat by St Helens on Friday night, Wigan booked top spot and a week off in the opening round of play-offs with an impressive six-try success.

"They were white hot," admitted Elliott. "When a team is a potent as Wigan are with the ball, you can't afford to give them as much possession as we did.

"I was really proud of the amount of effort by my players but disappointed with our execution."

Elliott must now try and patch-up his side for Sunday's final league game with Salford at Odsal prior to their elimination semi-final at St Helens on Friday week.

Brian McDermott and Stuart Fielden will be available again but resources are badly stretched with top try scorer Tevita Vaikona, Matt Calland and Sonny Nickle all ruled out for the season in recent weeks to add to long term absentees Danny Peacock, Paul Anderson and Warren Jowitt.

To complete a miserable night for the Bulls the Academy side were beaten 52-4 by Wigan in the curtain-raiser.

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