NINE players and John Kear have suffered with a mysterious illness over the course of the season, says the Bradford Bulls head coach.

Both Colton Roche and Jake Webster were the latest to fall victim to a reported stomach bug that has plagued the Bulls squad over recent weeks.

They had to pull out late from the loss to Leigh Centurions.

Kear admits the Bulls are looking into the issue, which has caused big name players to miss key games.

Ross Peltier missed the Featherstone game at the end of May, with captain Steve Crossley out for the recent victory at home to Batley Bulldogs.

Kear said: "We've totalled them up, there's been nine players plus myself who've suffered with this illness.

"So we're looking at how we feed the players and about hygiene issues, because obviously we can't keep losing players in big games through a stomach bug, or whatever.

"We're really looking, when we feed the players, how we feed the players, so that we're trying to eliminate that."

Webster has since overcome his illness, but Roche also has a groin strain to add to his woes.

Injuries, as well as illness, have caused extra hurdles for Kear this season.

Long-term absentee Joe Keyes played the full 80 minutes for the reserves last week.

Kear admitted throwing the scrum-half in as a starter straight away, despite the side's recent struggles, would be difficult with him being out for so long.

But, the head coach confirmed he would be in the 19-man squad, with a strong possibility of him making the matchday team.

Kear also had positive news concerning diminutive winger Jy Hitchcox.

He said: "Jy should be available to the reserves (against Halifax), which is obviously a curtain raiser to the main game.

"He may well feature in that game.

"That would obviously make him available for the rest of the season.

"So that would be a massive plus point if we can get Joe and Jy back on the field.

"Because they're obviously two experienced, quality players."

Kear may have been expected to ring the changes following the damning defeat to Leigh.

But, the head coach is remaining level-headed in the aftermath of that game.

He said: "It's not a matter of ringing the changes, because it's a matter of who's available to ring the changes.

"We've still got a fair few on the injury list. It's a matter of having a cold, analytical mind.

"It's very easy to get caught up in the emotion.

"But what you've got to try to do is take that emotion out of it and be analytical and have a certain amount of clarity as to where we need to improve and how we can do that.

"Should that be personnel changes, that's what we'll do."