Yeah, that was the main reason for the majority of dropped balls in the 1st half near their line. You give yourselves no room to move and the Quins defenders had nothing to think about.

I can't wait to see that first half completion rate mate. I think it could be under the 63% we had at Huddersfield.

Im sure I can remember 11 dropped balls at least off the top of my head so that'll be somewhere nearer 50%. I was going to do an error count too but it slipped my mind. Im actually glad because i'd have run out of ink

I think I know what you mean. Similar thing occurred to me. On our ball you could have covered 3/4s of our team with the Bulls banner that goes across the terrace.

Its the other ankle apparantly. Doesn't sound like a long term injury.

Exactly, we need players standing further back to give some space and to cause the defence to think.

We seem to play like this:

*
*
* * * ** * * * *
* *
Should be like this:

*
*
* * * * *
* *
* *
* *


Well maybe not like that, it's not meant to be a literal representation but something with more depth!

That didn't look like that before I posted it!!!!!

Know the problem mate.

Don't think it's very good at handling spaces.

You might have been better doing a full stop instead of a space, and an X instead of an *.

That said, I've never managed to get a decent graphic up on here yet

He's been performing quite well in the 20's, much better than the 2 games Briggs has played.

I caught the second half of the 20s and he playing pretty well. Looked bigger than I thought he was too. I actually didn't recognise him from the Dewsbury game.

Here's one many of you will like. Took me 20 minutes, that.

Score was 38-30 to Bradford.

Not sure on the scorers though.

Review is up on the Bulls site.

Dunno about a 'natural no. 7' but Southernwood is far from being SL quality right now. He's only young and has time to develop but he's not, as yet ready to step up imo.

I don't think Herbert has been in any way outstanding but he is holding it together and seems to have the ability to create gaps with the pass, I think also he might be helped by playing with a natural no.6. I'd agree he's no Deacon with the boot, though I've certainly seen far worse kicking from a halfback. He perhaps needs to take the game by the scruff of the neck and assert himself more, perhaps, in a similar way to Southernwood, needs a bit more time.

Well if Briggs gets a call up before him then maybe he has a right to feel aggrieved. In the meantime I hope he keeps playing well because with all these injuries he'll get a game soon.

Tom Burgess:

Metres - 89
Carries - 8
m/carry - 11.1
Tackles - 6
Misses - 1

Not bad for a 1 spell debut is it. Not to mention the gaps he created as a dummy runner. I see a bright future for this lad. I just hope he's continued to be eased in so he doesnt end up like Feilden.

not sure what Fielden has to do with it, tbf. The circumstances behind his demise, and subsequent comeback as a run-of-the mill half-decent forward may remain forever unclear, but we brought him through to become very arguably the top forward in the game, and we got more than our money's worth out of him. Fantastic player, he was, and the envy of every other club.

Plus we got arguably THE best ever deal when we sold him, too.

Dont get me wrong. That wasnt aimad as a slur at you. I just meant that he was relied on to do too much as a young guy and burned out at a young age. He was the best prop in the world 5 or 6 years ago and Andrew Johns wanted him at Newcastle. I just meant that I hope Tom is brought through slowly and not rushed into 1st team on a regular basis.

Fielden was burnt out, he was top of the world at one point, now he's a average player who played in a good team last year. He was burnt out because we used hin every week for nearly 80 minutes, then after 30+ games for his club, he played international rugby.

Agree 100%

It's OK Harrigan, I never thought you were aiming anything at me. I don't think the explanation for Fielden's sudden demise was burn-out. If it was, how come he was largely burned back in last season? It isn't as if he played any less games.

I always suspected it was a combination of the tragic events around the time and this, coupled with the Mason incident, had triggered something.

I thought he was as average as he has been for the last 3 or 4 years last season. Dont let Eddie and Stevo influence your views



He never broke the line at all, he just ran the ball up, got hit and managed to get a few offloads out the back to keep the play going. He's not the guy that could break tackle after tackle in the mid 2000's.

I agree that what I've seen of him, he's not what he was, but he probably is what he would have been at his age anyway. As he doesn't play for us I only saw him in our games and the telly, and was pleased to see he was playing very well, by any standard. Though still a shadow of Fielden in his pomp. And i don't say it wasn't burnout, I just don't find the case for that at all convincing.

Something that might sway you then...

Brian McDermott and Jamie Peacock didnt start playing first grade until in thier 20's. McDermott was still one of the top props in the league in his 30's and Peacock is probably as good as any other prop in the league still now. Thats what happens when props make thier debuts later.

just as a side note wonder if burgess was given 29 shirt or if specifically asked for it?. would have thought next logical number to assign would be 27. pretty big statement of intent on Toms part if he's requested Fieldens old number and a big pair of boots to fill. Pretty impressed with him yesterday, put himself about a bit and looked pretty composed too.