I was thinking the same. Not that I expect it to happen, but when you see Wilson being sold then Chisholm & Magrin being farmed out, all just before Easter when you often need more players available, it's hard not to start to think something is up. And with the history of Bradford Bulls in the last 10 years, it's hard not to think that something is the bank balance and costs are being cut.

It's times like this when the standard radio silence that has come from Odsal in the last couple of years really isn't helpful.

I don't think it's a case of we're skint TBH. I think it's more a case of he's been unprofessional or him and Kear have had a fall out. The rumour mill will go into overdrive with delight on social media. However at the end of the day we've sold an 18 year old who's played against Hemel & Keighley for £100k + and a player who hasn't played for 2 months. There were rumours of Kear and Chisholm falling out at the Batley game. So this isn't out of the blue. Also if you watch Kears interviews from around that time, when we had no HBs and the reporter asked about Chisholm or the HB injury update he either very quickly changed it from Chisholm or didn't mention him at all in his injury update which suggested he was no longer in his plans then.

I do find it off he's gone to a promotion rival though. Can't explain that one. If a Storton/Ryan/Minchella are next to leave then the alarm bells will be ringing.

I reckon we will end up signing Brierley. He probably isn't the ideal fit but he does score plenty of tries. Good organising halfback are difficult to sign, especially mid season unless they're bringing some baggage.

While we're speculating wildly, how has Sammut been doing for Wigan? With our close relationship to Lenagan perhaps he might be an option!!

Brierley scores tries by getting on the end of other people's breaks. It won't happen with us because we never make any!

No chance of getting Sammut - he's injured for one and also in Wigan's starting 17 when fit.

Well last Sunday, the best player on the pitch for me was Fev number 10. A prop playing standoff and he dominated the game. Showed more flair than our HB’s have done all season.
While I am at it, why do our defence mostly never move off the line after opposition play the ball - or at best take 2 steps and then stop.
Our pen kicks to touch are woeful too, bet they average 10 yards or so.
Surely these last two points can be worked on to prevent yards against, and to gain free yards from pens.
Just so frustrating.

Sammut has only been playing for Wigan recently because Sam Powell was injured and Leuluai had been moved to hooker. When everyone was fit in the early season, he wasn't in.

I saw some Wigan fans on social media saying they were secretly a little happy Sammut had picked up an injury, so it doesn't seem he's impressing all that much. The young Shorrocks lad seems like he may have jumped ahead of him in the pecking order too.

I'm saying this purely for info, not because I expect Sammut will be back at Bradford any time soon.

It's pretty impossible to make any sense out of letting him go at this point in the season if there has been no fall-out. The number of games played, along with his lack of effectiveness (commitment?) when he has, would suggest it is the right decision though. That said we're now down to two fit halves, one a kid plus an unfit Joe Keyes whose immediate future seems uncertain at best. I hope we know what we're doing and have planned ahead...

Kear is, above all else, a man manager. People like him and want to please him. If a player falls out with JK, then you'd have to think on balance they've brought it on themselves. He's not the sort of bloke your average person is likely to be on bad terms with.

I'm thinking this is a prima donna issue not a financial one.

I agree with you. I think its more his attitude than his ability, He played a handful of games for Sheffield, was usually their man of the match then all of sudden they didn`t want him, why? there has to be something in his make up or lifestyle that does not fit into being a pro rugby player. We may not have been playing scintillating rugby without him, but since he`s not been playing we have started to win games.

Where's this Brierley rumour come from?

Be a decent signing if it came off. Don't see any difference in him and Chisholm though. In fact I have always thought RB more show than substance.

Dane just put a small statement out saying he has been fit for a few weeks!!!!!