Of the players likely to be in our 17:

Blackmore, Arundel, Baldwinson, Scurr, Doro, Johnson and Davies. I think the club still have to solve the gap left by the long term absence of Tom Holmes after his devastating health news. We have a couple of new signings from Oz waiting for clearance in Ott and Fulton which should help in the coming weeks.

No excuse having players missing ,we had that problem for years .Think we should give Wakefield credit for the way they played ,and remember there is a lot of new players getting to no each other.so as the season goes on we should get better What ever we do we always get negativity.Read a post on this forum making a big thing about there were empty seats in the East stand so they could not be a crowd of 7,200 Knock of a thousand and it is still 2,000 give and take above what we have had for years in S L .6, 200 plus was some thing the last board could only dream of

I agree, 8 games before a ball is kicked in the season is too much. Though I think there may have been a friendly or two in that.

Seems a few championship clubs have picked up some injuries.

Either that or the cup games start even earlier and have 2/3 weeks between them.

Still the same amount of games some of which are in the mud.

Bradford seemed to have a lot of friendlies as well, not sure if they were aware of the 1895 Cup format before they were agreed. Injuries are part of the game though and Bradford are more equipped than some Championship clubs to cope. However, when facing FT opposition they are naturally going to struggle playing players out of position etc. losing further players within the game just compounds that.

Bradford haven't really found their rhythm yet but I'm confident they'll improve enough to give a better account of themselves.

I don't really understand this 'we had players missing' thing - if that's the case then you're saying outside your alleged first 17 the other players aren't good enough?
Clubs have squads if rotation in the squad is not up to standard then that's bad recruiting.
I don't even know what out first 17 is?

We recruit within our budgets. I'm not sure even with our best 17 all fully available if that's a side that can challenge Wakefield but I imagine our budgets are somewhat different.

I was responded initially after a poster commented that they couldn't understand how Bradford were 3rd favourites with the bookmakers.

I have Bradford down as 3/4th finish this season.

Think Wakefield, Toulouse, Featherstone and Bradford probably will be top 4. Outside chances of top 4 in Batley and York. Doncaster have made a few astute signings so could be a dark horse to slip into play offs.

In terms of Trinity starting 17 - think Thornley, McGillvray and Boothroyd would be in there. Maybe Bain once we see how he goes.

Overall though we do have some quality players to step in and a few quality young lads too who are likely improving all the time in full time training.

I can see us making a couple of additions through season but only if they are of a high quality that become available.

With players like Lawford and Smith though coming through the future looks bright indeed.

I don't know if the poster of that comment was particularly aiming at Bulls.

It's the same at every club in reality.

Full game replay is now on YouTube
Go on watch it you know you want to!

Enjoy

I don’t think batley York or Doncaster will be there in top 4 and I did point out that Sheffield had been going around at their business quietly and think they will be in top 4, along with Halifax I thing top 4 will be Wakefield, Sheffield Toulouse then Halifax, with 5th spot up for grabs with Bradford probs nicking it.

Exactly.
We've been as disappointed as anyone at Wakefield when squad players come in and are not quite the standard we hoped they would be. I can honestly say I have no idea what last seasons first 17 was!
My comments not aimed solely at Bradford