couldn't agree more mate,platt is a loose cannon,and sykes isn't a centre but an out and out full-back,can't macca even spot this?

what would we give to have mumby playing now for the side?

I think part of the answer might be that Im not sure if Paul Sykes thinks Paul Sykes' best position is full back. (did he not start out as a stand off??)

He can play full back, has played there, and can do it quite well. But he's still not a top drawer full back if you ask me, much like Reardon looked good there in spells. We also need Sykes in the at the moment more than we need him at FB IMO.

I also think Platt did not do as bad as some people are making out. Like has been said he made three obvious errors, but the fans are looking for them to pounce on and they get highlighted, rightly or wrongly (Im as guilty of this as anyone). His work rate was good and he did look to support the ball but all too often it never got that far, there were plenty of occations of Platt running through the line but the ball never being released.

Having said all that, Im not sure if Platt, Sykes or Halley are the best answer for full back, but they are our options for this year and they will all suffer in comparason to a very long spell of the club having superb full backs.

Herein lies the problem. Its not either/or for those 3, its simply the fact that none compare in any area to previous Bulls full backs and even worse - are not up to current SL standards of most other clubs full backs.
It beggars belief that this key role was not recruited in the off season, especially as we seem to have no young players coming through in this position. Are we destined to have 3 mediocrre full back choices for the next few years?

I'd take Platt over Mathers, Tony, Blaymire, Melling, McGoldrick, Fitzpatrick, Reardon and Wellens.

Some of these are questionable but those two beggar belief IMO RER.

TBH I would take Wellens' gran over Platt.

Yep. although the more positve spin is that we signed Platt as a decent/average super league full back who did look to have the "potential" to be much much better, and I'm sure the club would say that is still the work in progress which is why he has been given a new contract.

Also as RER points out, super league is not exactly awash with great alternatives, out of RER's list I'd only take Wellens over Platt, Greenshileds and Webb are the ones off the list Id pick if I could obviously! as the others just have different faults which would not improve us over Platt IMHO. (still dont know why Reardons not kicked on as he had more potential then Platt IMO, oh well)

Sykes is as good as he's going to be at FB, and he'll play more. Halley I think is a more natural winger than FB, he could prove me wrong but I think its a longer shot than seeing real improvment out of Platt.

I've never rated Motu Tony and I think Wellens is going to get caught out more and more this season.

Whether Wellens does or does not get caught out this season, we won't know until October time.

What we know about Wellens now is that he's a top class FB, and I think many Bradford fans would have him in their team over Platt.

FWIW, Sykes had one game at FB last year and did well, if Crookes came into the team and did well (he looked good at Dewsbury, admittedly only Dewsbury), then the option could arise for Sykes to take Platt's place.

People are very easy to jump on Platt. Yes, he makes mistakes, but its apparent his game is based on confidence. He's comfortable alot of the time but when the crowd seem to get on his back, it doesn't help anyone.

kieran hyde

I disagree if you put Wellens in any other teams bar Saints and Leeds and he'sd look average.

He's like Dave Halley too small to be effective. The best fullback we've had who hasn't played first team rugby was Nicky Saxton.

Is she available off quota

from what I've seen of him I'd agree to an extent although he does seem to be a bit better than halley at that stage and I dont think size is as massive an issue for a fullback as it is for a winger.Also was one of standout players in the oz tour thing last year so he must have potential. Was mentioning him in response to post that we had Nobody coming through academy.

She should be. She is also a good bit younger than Steve Menzies so that helps bring down the average age of our side.