I know i might be tempting fate, and expecting a winding-up petition, or some missed wages to destroy the optimism, but coming away from the game yesterday, and seeing the implosions of others, i can't help feeling the club is a in a good place at the moment and we are heading in the right direction (at long last).
Salford selling their best players, along with a mountain of debt and no academy, Leigh releasing the players that were the soul of the club, and replacing them with players that just don't care for the badge. Meanwhile we are chugging a long nicely.
Yes there are some issues, like social media, press releases etc But on the rugby side, i think Chalmers has got it bang on. Yes we're in L1 and have only beaten Keighley, and very luckily nicked a win against York. The wins aren't what are making me optimistic, it's the whole feel of the club. We have some very talented young players in the academy who in the main, are all on long term deals. We have a reserves to allow the young players to develop, and maybe even find another Stuart Reardon, who comes from the amateur setup to break through. We have a coach full of integrity, the players want to play for, and IMO, won't be outthought by the opposition.
The main reason though was the way the players applied themselves yesterday. The 54-6 scoreline is irrelevant. It was the actions of the players that proved to me the players damn well care for this club. A young squad who we can build with, who have a stake in our club either by HG, or are Bradford lads/fans. Celebrating a knock-on, defending a team-mate who might be roughed up. Standing up the opposition when they try bully us (i genuinely think we some of the Keighley bully boys got put in their place yesterday by the likes of Flanagan, Peltier etc)
I'm not saying this is the grand return to SL, far from it, but watching Leigh mercenaries destroy the club that Leigh built up, I can't help compare them and our 2016 mob to our current squad. The 2016 lot wouldn't have won against York. They didn't have the mental strength or the desire. Seeing players genuinely care for the badge, and have a connection with the fans, and club makes me think we have finally begun the path to rebuilding, and we have the right payers, coaches, setup to do it. I'm genuinely enjoying watching Bradford again, not because we're winning, but because the players care as much as the fans do.
Now Mr Chalmers, no delayed wages, or WUP please
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