That time of the year again. What do we think of Bradford next year? Their squad seems to get weaker each season but do like the addition of Luke Gale and Elliot Kear. I think Sammut is the wild card for them, wonder if he will get much game time and if he does in what area. Probably hovering around 9th place with an outside shot at the eight.


1. Brett Kearney OVERSEAS & NON FED TRAINED 2013 -*with option for 2014
2. Adrian Purtell OVERSEAS & NON FED TRAINED 2014
3. Keith Lulia OVERSEAS & NON FED TRAINED 2013 Knee Injury - due back late October
4. Chev Walker 2012
5. Elliot Kear 2014
6. Ben Jeffries 2012 OVERSEAS - awaiting British Passport
7. Luke Gale 2013
8. Nick Scruton 2014 Wrist Surgery - Back January 2012
9. Heath L'Estrange OVERSEAS & NON FED TRAINED 2014 Knee Ligaments - Back January 2012
10. Craig Kopczak HOME GROWN 2013
11. Olivier Elima 2012
12. Elliott Whitehead HOME GROWN 2013 Suspended until Round 2
13. Jamie Langley HOME GROWN 2013
14. Matt Diskin 2013 Shoulder Surgery - Back January 2012
15. Bryn Hargreaves 2012
16. Manase Manuokafoa NON FED TRAINED 2012
17. Ian Sibbit 2012 Wrist Ligaments - no duration announced
18. Shaun Ainscough 2012 - * with option for 2013
19. Thomas Olbison HOME GROWN 2014
20. James Donaldson HOME GROWN 2012
21. Tom Burgess HOME GROWN 2012
22. Jarrod Sammut 2012
23. Danny Addy HOME GROWN 2012
24. Jason Crookes HOME GROWN 2012
25. Adam O'Brien HOME GROWN 2013
26. John Bateman HOME GROWN 2014
27. Kyle Briggs 2012
28. Paul Sykes HOME GROWN 2013
29. Michael Platt 2013

I think 7th, the team have had chance to re-start and refresh, alter some tactics and brought in players that on their day can be game changers, they showed albeit not often enough flashes of being a good side when they dug in, i remember the Wigan cup game in which they were unlucky. The loss of Raynor and Lynch arguably their 2 best players will be a big one but hopefully the Oddball lot will get behind their team.

They do seem to have Several Fragile bodies in their ranks!!!!!!
I use to hate going to Bradford years ago for our annual kicking even Paul Newlove use to rip us!!
8th at best i reckon anything else is a bonus sorry Bradford fans but it could be another long hard season..

[iEven[/i Paul Newlove used to rip us?

A lot of unknowns with this Bradford team, some skilful but inconsistent players in their ranks. They have a chance of making the playoffs but as you don't have to win half of your games to make 8th this isn't exactly a vote of confidence in them. At this early stage I have them scrapping with KR and Cas for the last playoff place.

Champs, without a doubt. No squad in the league has talent at their disposal like we do.

9th at best

6th. Straight out the playoffs though. With an early exit from the cup also.

The Bulls aren't looking too good at the moment. Their squad for 2011 looked similar to what we had in 2002, and if anything it looks even worse for 2012. All that I can see for them is another series of hammerings. They really need some investment and they have never recovered from all the money they had to give Leeds after the Iestyn Harris saga.

I agree. Probably about 9th, maybe just into the play-off spots. The addition of Gale is a really positive for them. Elliot Kear came through and played a lot more for Crusaders last year and looked a real prospect. He's a good winger with a lot of talent, but for me, isn't fully ready for Super League. His judgement and decision making lets him down a lot, but that will come with time and experience. Whether he'll make an impact next season at Bradford, I don't know, but he's definately one for the future. Jarrod Sammut..... lets just say, not my favourite. Showed glimpses of a quality, but is hit and miss. Attitude is very poor and this shows when you listen to his previous clubs. Not very popular with coaches/club officials etc. I don't think he'll do anything at Bradford.

Thats one poor looking squad, losing Andy Lynch will be a big blow to their go forward. They do have a couple of good youngsters though, Elliott Whitehead looks a decent prospect, Elliott Kear as well.

Too many journeymen, has been's and never will be's.

10. Craig Kopczak HOME GROWN 2013
The way he stood up to our friends from the Antipodes I'd have him at the Wolves

With that squad they may be able to sneak 7th or 8th and then they will need to be extremely lucky with injuries.

Any higher than that will be a minor miracle..

be interesting to see how Burgess progresses..... he looks a beast of a player.... but when we murdered them at the HJ... he looked easy to expose.... mind you all of them did... maybe its a bit harsh to judge his defence on that showing.... he is going to end up as a player that is very hard to put down though... if he develops a decent offload game he will be almost unplayable by the time he is in his mid twenties.

They'll not make the eight, again.

They don't carry enough strike threat and don't have halves that look upto much to me. Sammut will pick you off with the odd intercept but he won't unlock you.

A lot of burden will fall on young shoulders in Kopczak, Whitehead & Burgess to provide the go forward and without Lynch. If they keep L'Estrange fit that's a big plus.

9th for me. I think a couple of the decent youngsters may move on this time next year.

10th