For an experienced former international half, I thought Widdops decision making was really poor last night. Lost count where Fax had us under a bit of pressure and he looked lost and just decided to kick through, releasing all the pressure you'd built up.

Illustrated by the fact Keyes didn’t need to lace up his boots, stayed on the bench.

I think we need to be very careful this year. York did very well to pull themselves out of the relegation mix last year but they had a squad of 27/28. With our paper thin squad if we found ourselves marooned down there after 10-15 games, we could be in for a real scrap. I would say that this isn't Finn's team but he was officially in from June/July so had time to pass on players. I did hear that he never wanted Douglas. If this is supposed to be a year of consolidation under which is essentially a franchise bracket and the operation needs to adjust with savings on the pitch then so be it. But running with a halfback on the bench when Hursey or Campbell could have been in there is bemusing to me. A truer picture after 10-12 games and hopefully pitches drying out.

It would be interesting to hear Finns honest thoughts on the Widdop signing, obviously getting a slating off Bradford fans but he was playing behind a dominated pack, Thurston could have been at 7 for us last night it would not have made a difference. That said I wonder if the signing was forced upon Finn as its clear we needed players in other positions and Widdop is a luxury we did not need when that is the case. As SF says above the decision to have a half back on the bench on that heavy narrow pitch and then not use him is bemusing. It was always going to be a forward battle and we lost it badly in the 2nd half.

For me we had the best of the first half my neck was aching from constantly looking to my right in both halfs. Bradford was more clinical with the few chances they had and went in at halftime in front which was frustrating but that was nothing compared to how annoying watching the crap we served up in the second period was. Yes we lost Hudson early and Eden in the second half plus you can look at us playing last weekend but that is no excuse for what we served up. It as already been said the risk we took going with a small squad and then suffering the handful of long term injuries hasn't helped. Outside of our strongest 17 there is a big drop off in quality when we get any injuries So when the board say we are aiming for the playoffs and Finn says the same that doesn't stack up to me. We are having to play with the same players week in week out no matter how they perform because we don't have anyone else to play and we look closer to the sides who you would expect to be near the bottom of the table than the playoff contenders. If the board think that we can plug the gaps in the side by using dr then we are in for a long and painful season.

I agree with GF with most points especially in signing Connor Davies I mean seriously what IS that as a signing fgs?

We BADLY lack a leader like Muzza and I am even boring myself now repeating that. Our 6 and 7 are NOT leaders. Is Widdop that leader, we will see on drier tracks where he may bloom again but our pack is so lightweight ans wouldn't even match most L1 sides sadly.

All very disappointing.

I seem to have read that Bulls had/ have 6or 7 players on loan or. D/R in their 17, if so how is that allowed ? Makes a mockery of squad building. Apart from everything else Bradford are doing to cheat their way into super league, allegedly !

We have McGowan on loan for the season who is currently covering the long term absence of Tom Holmes. We had around 8 or 9 first team players unavailable on Friday so 3 loanees were brought in - which a clubs are entitled to do. The only dual reg agreement we have is with Rochadale.

I understand Halifax also brought players in on dual reg. Some really odd tactical decisions from your coach and most experienced playmaker certainly didn't help your cause. See you in Sept for the return leg.

We had 4 players on Loan in the 17. Halifax had 2.
Your post just seems bitter after a defeat.

I’d be interested to see how many players get banned or suspended till we actually did something proactive, there’s nothing more irritating than people in a higher position reacting rather than planning. Running a tiny squad with multiple injuries is quite frankly ridiculous, letting seasoned championship players leave with no replacements lined up is bizarre . Appreciate money is tight but considering we were told recruitment was more a less done before Finn signed who were we recruiting exactly, Eden was a late deal swap for walmsley and widdop a last minute deal also . Considering our pack as been weak for a while I don’t understand the recruitment at all . Why are the club even mentioning ambitions of super-league when we don’t even have a full playing squad is just annoying. They talk about player welfare and head collisions etc then ask players to play against a superleague side then a top championship side in a five day turnaround after working all week and to do this all year with no rotation available, bloody ridiculous.

@Ckt2487, no one asked for your opinion on our forum. It eas just listening to the commentary, and watching on YouTube, every other name was a loaner or dual reg. Not bitter there is a long way to go, and the way your lot fudge figures ect you might not make it that far. No not bitter, just counting the days till you get your just rewards

The club clearly have no ambition of reaching SL. The minute they gave the thumbs up to the pitiful and outrageous IMG deal proves just that.

I understand that clubs need to improve off the field but from a fans point of view most people are grafting all week and just look for some entertainment, rugby league is a working class sport for working class people. Img is just another convoluted idea to keep the status quo as it is .

I could understand the anger from the fans of other historic clubs, because when I saw the criteria for IMG, I thought it was designed for big city clubs, not for the status quo. Toulouse, London, Bradford, York etc.