Re: Whitehaven (H) : Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:30 pm  

Pumpetypump wrote:

Bradford Bulls ‏@OfficialBullsRL 8 minutes ago
WE'VE something very exciting for you fantastic fans coming later! Stay tuned... #ItAllStartsNow

Apparently it's a book. It contains several pages containing drawings of hundreds of rugby players. One of them will be slightly different and you have to see if you can spot him. It is to be called "Where's Fergie"

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Thu Feb 19, 2015 11:29 pm  

I reckon, they will be slightly worse than lowly Leigh last Sunday, Haven will try and murder some of your players, and maybe even some of your fans. Welcome to the 'less skillful' championship.

[Bullseye]

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:38 am  

According to the T&A we’re likely to be without Siejka and Williams for two matches due to suspension so they’ll miss games versus Fev and Hunslet. Lowes is reported to have said the squad for Haven match will be pretty similar to the Leigh squad apart from Addy who is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.

So looks like we could be persisting with Chev in the centres if Baille and Blythe remain out. Not sure who will come in for Addy.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:47 am  

Bullseye wrote:

According to the T&A we’re likely to be without Siejka and Williams for two matches due to suspension so they’ll miss games versus Fev and Hunslet. Lowes is reported to have said the squad for Haven match will be pretty similar to the Leigh squad apart from Addy who is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.

So looks like we could be persisting with Chev in the centres if Baille and Blythe remain out. Not sure who will come in for Addy.

If nobody new is available and the squad is similar, I would hope either Ulugia or Henry come into the centres with Chev moving to Addy's place. If it's Ulugia, we may see Bates on the bench in his place? With the players that are supposedly injured, I can't see many other options to be honest, aside from starting Walshaw in Addy's place and Bates taking the bench spot.

Here's hoping a Fleming, Ferguson or Petersen are back to solve the problem.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:12 am  

In that case drop Siejka for Whitehaven and let the halves who will play against Fev and Hunslet have a full game together.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:23 am  

I'm glad we've chosen this year's Mike Worrincy/Marc Herbert/Rikki Sheriffe/Lee Sthillaire after just one game.

Anyway bugging out of here. Off to post on Bullsapp instead.

laters

[Bullseye]

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:27 am  

Perhaps a plan worth considering FA. Fev away will be tough and we need to be prepared. They’ll be very up for it. Did Carvell and Wood play for them last weekend? Has Maitua got his visa yet? The Wakey board reckons they’re interested in getting Sammut (at least on loan).

Our options for halfback with Addy and Siejka out are Brook and Mullaney. I don’t see any other options for No7. If you move Mullaney we’d need to find a backup fullback (probably Ulugia). So that leaves a wing spot free (Shaw’s a bit dodgy under the bomb so I’d put Purtell there and hope Baille is fit). When you look at all the changing about it’s not ideal and will make us a bit disjointed.

I was stood next to Brook at Cas and was struck by how slightly built he was. He’s still young and hasn’t really filled out yet. It could be a gamble to play him. He’s alright in attack but in defence he’d certainly get targeted.

Is Siejka becoming a scapegoat? Not yet I don’t think but he did have a bad game at the weekend. If someone plays poorly they deserve criticism surely?

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:39 am  

Bullseye wrote:

I was stood next to Brook at Cas and was struck by how slightly built he was. He’s still young and hasn’t really filled out yet. It could be a gamble to play him. He’s alright in attack but in defence he’d certainly get targeted.

True Bullseye, but i would rather have a small, skinny half back who can run, kick and pass, than a built half back who can't do any. Remember the reaction when Sam Tomkins made his debut. Some were saying he shouldn't be any near a rugby field.

I don't think Brook will ever be built for rugby (Rob Burrow still looks like he shouldn't be near a rugby field), but Brook was always praised in U19 match reports last season. We've got to give him a go sometime and i would rather him play against a part team that we''ll probably dominate, let him build some confidence. If it comes to the super eights and we have a shocker with injuries and end up losing Gaskell, Siejka and Mullaney (With our injury record it could well happen) and we haven't played Brook, what do we do? Let him make his competitive debut against SL opposition?

I wouldn't play him against the likes of Fev, Fax, Leigh yet, but Hunslet, Whitehaven games are ideal opportunities to give him a run out. Would keep Siejka & Gaskell for Whitehaven. Mullaney/Gaskell against Fev and give Brook a run out against Hunslet.

I know it's a lot of chopping and changing in the halfs, but Siejka being suspended for two games mainly caused that. I think they will be a lot of rotation throughout the season, then about 1/2 months before the split, we'll start seeing a settled side.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:58 am  

Assuming no one new is fit would put Mellor into back row and Pitts to loose forward. It's an idea about Brook in this weekend, he needs to be upto speed before Fev game IMO

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Fri Feb 20, 2015 11:24 am  

Surely its an ideal game to give Lauaki a run from the bench? 10 mins either side of HT, gives him a bit of game time before Fev.