Big game this week not just a derby but could also play a part in who gets third spot. I would expect a fired up bradford for this one even if they are struggling for halves i would still expect a strong performance from them. But we should be very fired up too considering what's at stake and lets not forget they beat us earlier on in the season and that defeat still hurts now if i am honest. I will go for a fax win 26-10.

While most neutral observers would probably expect a Fax win, particularly in view of Bulls half-back problems- our half backs- whoever they turn out to be - need to really take this opportunity to dictate play as, after a very impressive spell they've definitely gone off the boil. Unfortunately couldn't make Sheffield game, where I would guess Barber was used as a back up second row - but assuming he's fully fit would like to see him back in the centres.

Bradford to sneak this one for me

With the departure of Gad the Fax pack are significantly weaker in the impact department and Sheffield won more of the collision on Sunday and I expect a big test against the Bradford middle this weekend.
Our D will have to be back to the levels set prior to the Eagles game.
Despite the Bulls having both of their own halves missing Joe Keyes is better than either of them IMHO so I don’t see that as a weak area for them.
A few selection questions for SG this week.
Hope I’m wrong, Bulls by 6 to 8 points.

Keys can't play due to concussion therefore at the moment Bulls have exactly no halves

Well I did say without knowing the teams so a meaningful shift in our favour.
On the other hand this weeks press strongly suggested Borough would be back with us this week but he has been named in tonight’s Wigan team.

Don’t know what you were reading but Lam stated Borough was staying at Wigan until at least next midweek...Ignore the halves debate,the Bradford game will be won up front and I’m not convinced we are good enough there.Hope I’m wrong but will give us a gauge of what we need moving forward if we are to compete with the unbeatens.

I was reading Rugby Leaguer & Rugby League Express page 11.
Quote. “Halifax expect to have on loan hooker Amir Burroughs back from Wigan after he was recalled by the club after a spate of injuries.”
Blah blah blah.
Grix explaining “Amir is a local product on his way up in the game. Circumstances dictate he needs somewhere to continue his development.” Blah blah.
Wigan assistant coach Mike Peet said. “We feel this is the perfect opportunity for Amir to develop his game and monitor his progress.” Blah blah.Wigan will retain a recall option.
Anyway the game is often decided in the middle and as you say another good test / marker but the platform they build will have less effect without any decent halves.

Bourough played five minutes for Wigan last night , what’s the point , the article below seems to indicate that the loan system works for both clubs , bourough comes on for 5 minutes in a game where Wigan needed three scores to win , a season long loan should be a season long loan not this duel reg in disguise debacle https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.manche ... 200985.amp

Bourough played five minutes for Wigan last night , what’s the point , the article below seems to indicate that the loan system works for both clubs , bourough comes on for 5 minutes in a game where Wigan needed three scores to win , a season long loan should be a season long loan not this duel reg in disguise debacle https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.manche ... 200985.amp

The 1st Bradford game has to be our worst performance of the season and that included Oldham and Toulouse. We played well for 10 minutes, should have had the game won by half time and then literally threw it away by the end of the game. That hurt because I thought Bradford looked very avaerage. To be fair to them since then they have done really well and Sunday will be a tough test. As mentioned above Bradford are a big side and will come and try and bully us down the middle an area where we lack any real size. Our strengths though are that we are mobile and we need to try and move the big Bradford team around the park. Hopefully our pitch been nearly twice as wide as the Bradford one we can use to our advantage.

I would think on a proper pitch and with Bradford's half back situation Fax ought to win this weekend. Bradford's coaches/players/fans all seem to think they should have beaten Fev this weekend but that was a weaker Fev team than the one that won at Fax, and was effectively running with a 2-man bench after half back Spence had to replace Doyle on the wing. The players were backing up from a torrid game in hot weather the week before, and had had no proper training sessions for 2 weeks, whereas Bradford hadn't had a game for a fortnight, they will never get a better chance of beating us than that.

Don't be fooled by the 'big pack' syndrome. For me, Bulls have a few questionable forwards who can easily be arent the most mobile; Crossley, Fleming, Walker. If Moore and Davies go early at them, make them work we will score plenty of points I think. Watching the highlights from the weekend, 4 of Fev's tries came from quick work around the rook or having support play straight out of dummy half. I'd bring Calcott back in this week. He gets his nose through the line just as much as Springer and with a decent offload.

Whilst I agree we should have beaten you, and had a great opportunity for the reasons mentioned, we were also missing our starting 6,7 and 9.

I fully expect a Fax victory this week however. Great form, maybe smarting a little from throwing away a 14 point lead at Dewsbury and we've no half backs.

Yes when playing against BIG forwards ask questions of their fitness, work them hard and use our mobility is a tactic often employed.
I wasn't so much worried about their BIG pack more about our own missing the go forward of Springer and Burough based on our most recent games without them, against Haven and Eagles where we were less dominant and Calcott is not in the 21 for this week.