We seem to have swapped a problem with injuries to backs to a problem with injured forwards. If Langley and Scruton are injured I really hope Koppy is up for playing as we'll really struggle without all three.

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Langley is incredibly injury prone these days, it is a shame we only seem to have him every few games as he is a big driving force. I think scrutes will play also, I believe Koppy will play (he has watched his father get increasingly poorly and had managed to balance visiting/ caring for his father around his rugby and this makes me think he will play on Sunday as a mark of respect to mr Kopczak. If scrutes or Koppy were missing I would be inclined to play crossely, he is streets ahead of burgess and is next in the pecking order IMO. Burgess isn't anything to write home about- he is so much bigger then other lads his age that he is going to look decent in the academy but put him in superleague and he wouldn't impress. If his name was Tom jones all the fans wouldn't rave about him.

Koppy been training and is ready to go- he will do it for his dad. Mate at Dudley knows him well and has set he was in the mindframe to play a few days after his loss. If scruton is out put Steve crossely in and see how he fares. Let's also wait for the announcement of the squad before merely speculating

Koppy will probably have a stormer. Good for him to play and take his mind off things.

Scruton out for 3 months according to Connor (and a more ambiguous post from Stuart Duffy) - not good news for the team or him, was just getting into his stride really.

Teenage Prop Tom Burgess could be set for his Bulls debut after being named for the first time in Mick Potter's Squad for the game against Harlequins.

Burgess replaces Nick Scruton who will miss the next three months with a wrist injury. Also back in the Squad is Loose Forward James Donaldson who hasn't played since rupturing his Cruciate Ligament last May. He replaces Jamie Langley, who misses the game with an ankle injury. Micahel Platt, who has had a hernia Operation is also absent and Ian Sibbit returns to the Squad.


The Squad in full is: Ainscough, Ah Van, Briggs, Burgess, Diskin, Donaldson, Elima, Hargreaves, Herbert, Kearney, Kopczak, L'Estrange, Lynch, Olbison, Royston, Sibbit, Sykes, Walker, Whitehead.

Not a bad 19 despite the injuries.

looks likely that burgess will at least get a bench spot unless either elima/sibbit does a stint at prop or we go with just 3 props. donaldson in at loose seems a certainty too. hopefully briggs and walker wil get in this week. I'd say sykes and sibbit to miss out although sibbit may get in ahead of one of burgess/donaldson

I would go with...

Kearney
Ainscough
Royston
Walker
Ah Van,
Briggs
Herbert
Lynch
Diskin
Hargreaves
Elima
Whitehead
Donaldson

Burgess, Kopczak, L'Estrange, Olbison

After what I saw last week then Sykes has to be the one who is a dead cert to miss out from the 17 because after all it was his sin binning that saw the game go from us with St Helens scoring 16 points in that ten minute spell when we were down to 12 men.

Burgess or Sibbit to also miss out.

thinking about it, whilst i agree about sykes missing out im not so sure about the other one. We may see whitehead miss out with sibbit and donaldson coming in. that way we have a more experienced 2nd row and add a bit of flair at loose., and avoid burning whitehead out.

Could also see Sibbitt on the bench instead of Olbison. Harsh on Olbison as he's not done anything wrong but would give extra bulk if Burgess doesn't work out.

Bit unfair to blame Sykes for the sin binning. Was a harsh call and could have happened to anyone. That said I have him dropping out aswell if Briggs and Walker are fit.

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I agree that Sykes would be the one to miss out in the threequarters, but not because of the sin binning, which was a bit harsh in truth and was for an accumulation of warnings not just Sykes' tackle in isolation.

The forwards are more difficult to forecast imo. Sibbitt may come back, with Scrutes out he does give a bit of bulk, unless he goes with Burgess, though I wouldn't expect Tom to play over long if he does come into the seventeen.