Peltier was doing ok until he got spooked by that goose. It seemed to turn him into some sort of shivering wreck after he ran away from the bloody thing.

I would agree better team won. I think I would also say the fitter team won as a lot of the Bulls players were struggling towards the end, which Keighley weren't so much.

And Oscar Thomas should be shining in a team full of kids. Unfortunately he stood out for the wrong reasons today, he was very poor when he came off the bench. We are definitely going to struggle if Pryce or Keyes are out and Thomas replaces them.

On the plus side, Oakes, Bentley & Butterworth all looked good to me. Butterworth has a hell of a boot on him and played briefly at scrum half. Him and Pickersgill seem like better half options than Thomas to me.

In the end it was the lack of size upfront, combined with a lack of experience that cost us. I was happy with how we dealt with their big men, but it took its impact on energy levels late on. Going the other way we lacked the impact to create space, and relied too much on our backs to break the line.

Thought Nathan Kitson for Cougars changed the game. Number 4 I think? Played at Hooker when he came on.

Onto the Bulls. Peltier was good but unfortunately him and Magrin cannot do it all on their own. It showed today that we need Joseph. We look light, although I was impressed with our Number 12's go forward! Again loved how the young lads got stuck in when Pryce got his head taken off.

Attack was a lot better this week than last week. Defence was okay.

Halafihi made some poor options in that first half which (had the right option been taken) could have taken the game away from Keighley. Thomas was poor. What the bloody hell was he doing when they kicked through and scored? Looked like he planted his feet. Everything does run through Pryce at the minute although I think Keyes will have more of a say as we play a few games.

All in all. Good run out for the lads. Need Joseph and Foster! All loans should be forwards. And it was a good chance for Toovey to assess his squad.

Agree on Bentley (Our Number 12). He plays well above his weight. Not the biggest kid, but he hands players off, he tackles people much bigger than him. Same could be said for Joe Lumb too.

And yes, all new loans/signings need to be forwards. Or at least the priorities need to be. A three quarter line of Caro/Macani, Mendeika, Oakes & Ryan is ok for us. It may not be amazing, but it's good enough. The current pack is too young and lacking experience.

first time I have seen a Goose on the pitch. I am more used to Peacocks!

Couldn't tell if it was Bentley or Wilkinson haha! Yes was very impressed with Bentley as I was in the game or two he had last season. Aye Lumb has been good and will be our main hooker from now on I would have thought Be nice to see him play a full season! To be honest that 3/4 line is class. For me Oakes and Ryan need to be a long term partnership. Both 20? So give them a few years together. I do hope Mendeika gets a run too but I can see Foster going there if we manage to beef up the pack!

Agree with the young and lacking experience. For me, I'd play Peltier and Joseph with Kirk and Magrin on the bench with a loan prop. Need a couple of second rowers though to complement Roche. I'd give Bentley a run at 13 though!

I thought we started well, but as we fed in more academy lads throughout the game, the impact & intensity dropped off. I dislike picking out individuals in a team game, but Oscar Thomas gifted Cougars 2 tries and generally had a shocker.

Aye Thomas was garbage. Saying that I though Halafihi was poor. Threw a terrible ball in a 4 v 2/3 situation that went to no one in the first half when Mendieka and Macani were wide open. Then cost an opportunity when on the 5th he went left where there were 3 Cougars marking 2 Bulls instead of whipping it straight to Pryce/Keyes for the kick.

I saw enough again today to still feel positive that we will eventually be a good team. It is still very early days and only the second time this thrown together team has played together, first time Pryce and Keyes partnered each other etc.

I thought we were good in the first half. Along with the trys we scored we had two good breaks ruled out for forward passes and there were two occasions on our right edge where we should have scored but picked the wrong pass. Attacking cohesion will only come with more game time. We looked a lot more creative than last week.

In the second half we removed Campbell, Keyes, Roche (who looks an excellent signing) and it showed. Thomas made two bad decisions that led directly to two trys; he needs more game time I think to sharpen up but I see him firmly as a backup player this year.

Our young lads all look excellent. The best of them today were Oakes (again), Bentley and Hodgson.

They wont however be able to do it every week for a full season and as everyone has recognised, we need a few experienced heads in the pack to take some of the pressure off them.


If Foster re-signs that's the backs sorted for me.

If Joseph signs then I would also be looking for 1 more experienced prop and two experienced second rowers and I think we'd be looking ok.

I wonder if Huddersfield would be willing to loan Mellor back to us. No idea where he is on their pecking order because I don't know enough about their squad, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask.
He'd be great cover for second row and centre.

As I say I would give Lumb the 9 shirt and Bentley the 13 shirt. That gives us four 20 year olds in the starting line up in Ryan, Oakes, Lumb and Bentley. Wilkinson will go well this season too!



Could have asked him. He was at the game today!

Presumably a Toronto fan...

Really makes me laugh. Bradford wanted to cancel today's game and play Toronto as you didn't think we were capable of giving you a game with the intensity you needed.
Craig Lingard must have had a very easy dressing room talk with the Keighley players.
I'm glad to see a team in Bradford playing rugby league but with the 12 point deducted I think championship 1 is beckoning.
Whichever league you plying your trade in next year I hope we're in it together because the crowd today was fantastic.

You thought anyone on this page would be interested why?
You haven't just won the challenge cup..
Gloating usually comes round and bites hard

Won