I just watched the highlights and Wigan looked quite impressive - lots of off the ball movement, dummy runners etc causing havoc. Having said that, it seemed to me that Bradford's defensive line was altogether in disarray at times.

I could be wrong (I've only watched the highlights) but it looked as though they were trying to compress in the middle and slide out wide at the same time, and got caught in no-man's land with the defence stretched out of shape far too easily (also leading to what look like badly missed tackles on the inside as players are desperately moving to cover out wide).

If you compress up the middle you simply have to stop the offload and control the PTB. Otherwise you'll be easily done for numbers. If you're failing to control the PTB you're better off giving up trying to compress at all IMO.

Somebody mentioned Peacock/Sinfield. It seems to me that Bradford really need a couple of players to take responsibility for organising the defence in the way those sorts of players do - including conceding penalties if required to slow everything down/give your side a breather.

I don't think the Bulls are soft, but they could and should do a lot better in defence than that showing.

They wont. Scrutons not done anything for 2 seasons(not 2 games) and wont do anything this year and Hargreaves, well he's just a plodder and wont do anything either. Ill judge them both mid season too.

Scruton must be on a right wedge aswell.

Whilst Elima is a superb tackler, he isn't "hard", he doesn't strike fear into oponents. We need a Fozzard, Bailey type character. Someone who winds up the opposition.

Baileys better at winding people up, vut I'd much rather scuffle with him than elima!

There are very few players in SL these days who strike fear into the opposition due to being hard, there isn't a Barrie Mac type prop ATM & with videoing of all games might not be again. There are hard players, such as Peacock, who seemingly play through every discomfort imaginable, but no-one expects hm to take their heads off at every opportunity. Similalry Fozzard & Bailey's extremes are more creations of myopic opposition fans; both decent props in their own ways.

Ask Kiwi prop Sam McKendry if Craig Kopczak is soft: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/p ... 6281277058

Ask Kiwi prop Sam McKendry if Craig Kopczak is soft: www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/p ... 6281277058