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.

This guy knows what it takes bigpondnews.com/articles/Sport/2 ... 21569.html

This guy knows what it takes bigpondnews.com/articles/Sport/2 ... 21569.html

I don't really see the point in having a coach, afterall it's all down to the players on the park.

You forget the rest so I put it in!

Having seen the tries again on SL show I'd say 5 of them were down to pretty soft defending on our part.

I'd agree, and on those, much of the problem seemed to be failing to get back the 10, turn and face in position, and then rush forward as a line, and close down the attackers. Stop the ball getting wide. Many defenders were static, some moving forward, some still retreating, and thus gaps all over the place. On others, just people never getting into position, leaving runway-sized areas totally undefended. The kick to Charnley's space being one example, he could have put up a tent before touching down.

I can admire much of Wigan's flashy passing and fancy footwork, but if the man receiving the ball is surrounded and flattened then you don't get that problem.

............they are just doing an impression of a team that are "soft" (they are rock hard really !)

We are missing Elima, he is our most agressive player.

Although Kopzack and Whitehead are 1st team regulars both are still learning the trade really. we need the likes of Langley, Walker (when in 2nd row) Scruton to step up and show that the bulls are no push others, we have had 2 hard home games, but was anyone really expecting a win on the performances of last year and the Hull friendly?

We have two new half backs, a new pair of centres as well as a winger. It takes time for these to gell. Its just unfortuate that whilst our forwards aint making the yards out backs aint going to be on the front foot.

A pack of

Kopzak
L'Estrange
Hargreeves
Elima
Whitehead
Langley


Scruton and Manuokafoa coming of the bench would add aggression but 1 hasn't found any form and the other is injured.

Scruton and Hargreaves need binning after this year and we should roll with Koppy, Burgess, MnM and sign another big prop.

I like a backrow of Elima, Langley and Bateman. Whitehead on bench.

So if Scruton and Hargreaves both turn up for the rest of the season you will still bin them?

Contracts are not won or lost after 3 games, all it takes these days if for a player to have 1 or 2 bad games and everyone is shouting for them to be let go.

Judge them both mid season, everybody has good and bad games and at the moment not many of the forwards are playing great!

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