Crossley has made improvements in the last few games but it isn't enough compared to the other props we've got available.

I'd put Crossley as our fifth choice prop, behind Sidlow, Clough, Clark and Kavanagh.
Crossley is easily good enough for this division but I'm not sure he'd cut it in SL, but right now he's making good yards with the ball and you can see him looking to offload when he can.
On a related note, it seems like the coaches share my opinion because Fleming has just gone out on a month's loan to Swinton. That suggests to me that he won't be getting much first team action now that we have some bodies back.

Unfortunately it looks like Kavanagh has picked up another knock which is why Crossley still gets into my 17 for tomorrow. There's no way we'll only go with 3 recognised props against Sheffield. They might be in a poor run of form but they are still a full time team and they've already spanked us this season. Time for some revenge tomorrow hopefully.

I thought Crossley had a good game on Sunday. He was certainly running his weight for a change and causing a lot of trouble for the opposition's defence. But it's good that we've got actual competition for places now.

Well, a game of two halves there. First half was completely uninspiring, down the middle, one-man rugby; where Sheffield looked like scoring every time they spread it to the wings. In fact, I took my mother-in-law (who is a Union fan) for her first ever game of League and she asked why the Bulls didn't pass the ball over the dotted inside-wing lines: I had to just explain that we just didn't have the imagination.

However, whatever Rohan said at half time really put a spark back into the pack. Better passing, running lines, backing up each other in defence, despite some utterly bizarre decisions from the ref, it looked a different team despite the loss of Gaskell. Thomas looked like settling in the halfs and Clare had another great game as FB.

Things ARE looking better. But lets not think about next week....

Sounded like we had decent pressure on there line most of match, despite losing gaskell fairly early. also sounded like thomas had a decent kicking game,particularly in latter stages. Who got motm?

Mixed bag. I thought our defence was much improved. Good line speed, and we were hitting hard. Defence on the wings is still an issue but hopefully in time that will improve.

Attack in the first half was hopeless. We just panicked. When we got near the Sheffield line and there was a defender in front of us, we just randomly kicked the ball. Last tackle options were poor again.

Thankfully Smith seemed to spot this and we were much better second half. We were much more composed and weren't trying to score off every play. We built pressure. Our first of the second half We just completed our set in Sheffield line, Had a good defensive set then next set we had the ball, we scored. Simples. Our kicking improved and we seemed to have a bit of game management.

Hopefully we'll see more improvement next week when Smith gets a full week with them.

I thought O'Brien was immense and Lumb did very well when he came on too. Fantastic to have those 2 on long term deals.

Forward pack was excellent for mine. Backs less so. Thomas did well with the infamous "game management" towards the end (drop goal and kicks to touch), but we lacked leadership once Gaskell went off early doors.

Clough & Sidlow were excellent. Mitch Clark does the perfect job as an impact prop. Steve Crossley had potentially his best game in a Bulls shirt.

The problem was the defensive efforts of the backs. Thomas, Blythe, Williams & Caro were bloody terrible in defence. And when you're going up against Sheffield's three quarters, that's an issue.

James Clare is our first choice fullback. The lad was brilliant for us tonight.

To make a point other than the performance though, that "stadium" is awful. Terrible view, terrible lighting, terrible facilities. Sheffield were clearly desperate to use that as their home ground this season.

I was in two minds about going last night but in truth I was shattered so decided to give it a miss but I had also looked online at the stadium beforehand. I got the impression it was pretty much a field with a shallow stand behind the sticks and a clubhouse on one side. Imagine the view of the game would be fairly poor, which made the decision a bit easier.

You weren't far wrong. The "seating" was a 10 row temporary golf stand behind the sticks. The "standing" was at one side of the pitch, with no incline or anything. It was essentially like watching West Bowling but with marginally better players on show.

I think the forwards worked hard all night as did James Clare.

Backs were terrible, including Welham who seems to have either brilliant games or a total meltdown. Someone also needs to tell Smith (if he's not already seen it) that Blythe is sodding useless. Give Ethan Ryan or Ross Oakes another game. Neither have let us down and deserve a chance ahead of him.

As for the stadium, I'm going to stick up for the university here as I've seen this place being built and it's a first class playing facility... For university teams!!!

The pitch is in very good nick to say it's had a full season of Rugby Union over the winter. The pavilion changing and bar facilities are possibly better than our own at Odsal. The obvious let down is the spectator areas and this was always going to be a struggle.

I just wonder if stands along the far side touch line would have been better, but this would have increased costs.

The main question is how the hell have the RFL agreed to this when a ground share at Doncaster or even Rotherham could have been an option?

It's easy to see why the Eagles will be happy though. They have spent minimum amount on the temporary stands, and with their gates being so low this is the only way they can afford to be full time. I do however worry about them next year as the costs of running their own stadium at the legacy park will be quadruple what they have spent this season.

Glad it will be the only time I watch Bradford here though.

Though Clare was a clear MOM for us, as a guy who was standing nearby asked, 'how many James Clare's have we got on the field - he seems to be everywhere'. Definitely a game of two halves and we looked hopeless early on, but when we finally got on top there was no way back for Sheffield and I though we were deserved winners.

Spectator facilities were poor though, there is no escaping that. Incidentally, speaking to Sheffield fans, they seem to feel the new ground isn't going to happen, which will be a bummer for the club, tbh.

Standing right at the side of the dug-outs was fascinating though and the banter between Chev and Keith Senior was brilliant - at one point, Chev [jokingly accused Senior of spending more time on the pitch than Gary Mercer....sadly Senior's reply was lost in the noise! One other funny - Chev's not got the loudest voice so, in the second half, whenever he had to shout team instructions he shouted to Omari Caro who passed them on....it's a wonder you couldn't hear Omari in Bradford, he doesn't need a megaphone, that lad, and that's a fact!

Wel done forwards, backsmust try harder. RFL: how did this ground get past you? Sheffield are one of the leading Championship team this year and one reason for that is because they are spending fsck-all on a ground. Everyone else seems to have to pay for a ground worthy of the name (from a spectator's perspective) but they somehow haven't.

Put it this way - if we were a parks team playing out of Horsfall, it would be a spectator palace in comparison. And Sheffield are a team one step away from SL. Which might be hosting SL visitors in the playoffs. How great would that look on international TV?

I like Sheffield and the people there have done a fine job keeping it going but really, there is a line and their ground is so far the wrong side of it, the RFL should really absolutely not allow it. And if in the playoffs, they certainly shouldn't be allowed to play there.