Thread on other Championship teams

[POR]

BRADFORD Bulls have confirmed that Jack Walker is to join Hull KR – with the club having activated a Super League clause in the full-back’s contract which was insisted upon by player and agent when Walker penned a one-year deal with the club.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Must admit prior to the season I didn't expect that in June both Halifax and Toulouse would be outside the top 4, as is the case right now.

Whoever wins their game today will leap up to third though. At this stage Halifax look more of a threat than Toulouse, if they have gone with the right approach and not viewed it as a jolly-up they should win comfortably, but we'll see.

[J Phil Loxton]

5 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Must admit prior to the season I didn't expect that in June both Halifax and Toulouse would be outside the top 4, as is the case right now.

Whoever wins their game today will leap up to third though. At this stage Halifax look more of a threat than Toulouse, if they have gone with the right approach and not viewed it as a jolly-up they should win comfortably, but we'll see.

If results go as they should and Halifax manage to win then I reckon Toulouse will be out of the promotion places. At the start of the season with everyone's expectations that would be a surprise. I still think though that Fevs main rivals to reach the final are much closer to home.

[POR]

BULLS have announced the signing of former NRL hooker James Segeyaro. until the end  of season

[Wolfey Rovers]

10 minutes ago, POR said:

BULLS have announced the signing of former NRL hooker James Segeyaro. until the end  of season

34 year old, who didn't light the french league up. Has many issues off the field. Will fit in nicely for them! 

[Daft old hooker]

Bradford were nothing special last night a half decent team would have thrashed them.

[The Phantom Horseman]

The troubling thing about this year is that a lot of our potential play-off opponents are wildly inconsistent. Most of them have had two or three games where they have been really good, and quite a few games where they have been very poor.

We've been by some way the most consistent team, hence our position in the table, but regrettably promotion isn't decided on the league table but by sudden-death knockout. Not how it should be in my view, but them's the rules.

[POR]

56 minutes ago, Daft old hooker said:

Bradford were nothing special last night a half decent team would have thrashed them.

What you talking about D according to our friends on viaplay Bulls are now showing their pre season promise and with  a new coach could go all the way

33 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

We've been by some way the most consistent team, hence our position in the table, but regrettably promotion isn't decided on the league table but by sudden-death knockout. Not how it should be in my view, but them's the rules.

All true but I think the only thing that can stop FEV is US!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Daft old hooker]

31 minutes ago, POR said:

What you talking about D according to our friends on viaplay Bulls are now showing their pre season promise and with  a new coach could go all the way

All true but I think the only thing that can stop FEV is US!!!!!!!!!!

 

They probably thought the Titanic would sail to America too and Bradford’s aspirations will sink just like that ill fated ship.

Edited June 3, 2023 by Daft old hooker
Typo

[elppaxr2i]

Think that was a poor result for us that fax threw away that lead 

Poor travellers yes, but TO confidence will be sky high now for next week

[The Phantom Horseman]

50 minutes ago, elppaxr2i said:

Think that was a poor result for us that fax threw away that lead 

Poor travellers yes, but TO confidence will be sky high now for next week

I'm actually inclined to think it might be quite good for us. Yes they will have their spirits lifted but we could do with some games with a bit more intensity and if Toulouse had lost yesterday they would have come over next week as a team in freefall and probably put up little resistance.

I think we will be too strong for them anyway. It sounds like their win yesterday owed a lot to Halifax errors, I don't think Toulouse are all that, especially at the moment with so many injuries.

 

[bigbaldnmad]

I think we need a strong challenge next week. We learn nothing from going through the motions week in,  week out, without an indication of where we are really at.

Lots of people blowing smoke up our ar$es and saying it's nailed on.... not yet.... if anything last year proved that.

 

[Fevrover]

2 hours ago, bigbaldnmad said:

I think we need a strong challenge next week. We learn nothing from going through the motions week in,  week out, without an indication of where we are really at.

Lots of people blowing smoke up our ar$es and saying it's nailed on.... not yet.... if anything last year proved that.

 

It certainly did un Fax and Batley wouldn't be easy games in play offs.

[POR]

 Rhys Lovegrove has joined up with the London Broncos as assistant coach 

[The Blues Ox]

Fax signing Adam O Brien on a 2 week loan/season long loan/permanant move depending on who you believe. Another good signing for us but in a position where we don't really need another player would much rather we sign at least 1 centre before the season is out as we currently have none at the club.

Still on Fax I wonder what Pickersgill is thinking at this point, leaves Fev so he can get some game time. Signs for Fax plays a few minutes in a couple of games and goes to France to be an unused sub. A bit of a calamity our season. 

[The Phantom Horseman]

4 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

Fax signing Adam O Brien on a 2 week loan/season long loan/permanant move depending on who you believe. Another good signing for us but in a position where we don't really need another player would much rather we sign at least 1 centre before the season is out as we currently have none at the club.

Still on Fax I wonder what Pickersgill is thinking at this point, leaves Fev so he can get some game time. Signs for Fax plays a few minutes in a couple of games and goes to France to be an unused sub. A bit of a calamity our season. 

It just highlights which positions are under-supplied and over-supplied in RL these days.

There's no doubt that full back is the position where there are most decent players available, largely because most SL teams only need to play one and only carry one specialist. So there are probably five or six full backs in the Championship who are in the top 20 specialists in their position, and you get the situation where Kheirallah and Pickersgill can't get a game at present.

Hooker too there are plenty of good ones around in the Championship whereas the positions where SL clubs lack depth - half back and middles - transfers over to the Championship. There have been a lot of Championship clubs this season playing hookers as emergency halves and back rows as middles.

Bit surprised that Fax haven't thrown the kitchen sink at trying to get Dean in if he's not coming back to us, but if they want to keep trotting Kyle Wood, or even Moore, out at half back, that's fine with me...

[The Phantom Horseman]

16 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

 A bit of a calamity our season. 

Looking at the table I wonder how many teams would be happy and how many unhappy with their season to date? Obviously we can't be unhappy given we're unbeaten in the league. Batley are having a typical Batley season and must be pretty happy given their budget. Sheffield have done very well but the wheels fell off at the weekend. I'd think Whitehaven and Swinton will be happy too.

But fans of the other 9 must all be disappointed to some degree. Bradford have a strong squad on paper and have occasionally loooked good but have thrown up some shockers and had to sack their coach, admittedly they have been badly hampered by injury, as have York and Toulouse, both of whom have paid the price for having smallish squads, Toulouse especially having the limitations of their reserve set-up exposed.

Fax have produced a couple of excellent Cup performances but also looked mediocre plenty of times. London are improving lately but still have work to do, Barrow have fallen off a cliff compared to last year, Keighley have found life tough and look to have plenty of internal strife and are another that has sacked their coach, Widnes just have mid-table mediocrity written all over them with no sign of getting any better, and Newcastle are where they looked likely to be looking at their squad before the season started.

That's a lot of teams that have disappointed, and that's why I think the Championship is a fair bit weaker than in previous years, nobody has really stepped up to the plate as main challengers to us yet, still time for that to change though.

[The Blues Ox]

1 hour ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

It just highlights which positions are under-supplied and over-supplied in RL these days.

There's no doubt that full back is the position where there are most decent players available, largely because most SL teams only need to play one and only carry one specialist. So there are probably five or six full backs in the Championship who are in the top 20 specialists in their position, and you get the situation where Kheirallah and Pickersgill can't get a game at present.

Hooker too there are plenty of good ones around in the Championship whereas the positions where SL clubs lack depth - half back and middles - transfers over to the Championship. There have been a lot of Championship clubs this season playing hookers as emergency halves and back rows as middles.

Bit surprised that Fax haven't thrown the kitchen sink at trying to get Dean in if he's not coming back to us, but if they want to keep trotting Kyle Wood, or even Moore, out at half back, that's fine with me...

Saw Dean mentioned in a thread on the main board and he is a Fax lad so can see how people are specualting but Grix had the chance to bring him to Fax last season and told people he didn't think he was up to playing in the championship week in week out so maybe the 2 parties have that in mind. Maybe Grix has changed his mind on Dean's showings this year but with him not getting a chance at Fev then if that move didn't come off I think we can be pretty sure Grix hasn't changed his mind.

[The Blues Ox]

1 hour ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Looking at the table I wonder how many teams would be happy and how many unhappy with their season to date? Obviously we can't be unhappy given we're unbeaten in the league. Batley are having a typical Batley season and must be pretty happy given their budget. Sheffield have done very well but the wheels fell off at the weekend. I'd think Whitehaven and Swinton will be happy too.

But fans of the other 9 must all be disappointed to some degree. Bradford have a strong squad on paper and have occasionally loooked good but have thrown up some shockers and had to sack their coach, admittedly they have been badly hampered by injury, as have York and Toulouse, both of whom have paid the price for having smallish squads, Toulouse especially having the limitations of their reserve set-up exposed.

Fax have produced a couple of excellent Cup performances but also looked mediocre plenty of times. London are improving lately but still have work to do, Barrow have fallen off a cliff compared to last year, Keighley have found life tough and look to have plenty of internal strife and are another that has sacked their coach, Widnes just have mid-table mediocrity written all over them with no sign of getting any better, and Newcastle are where they looked likely to be looking at their squad before the season started.

That's a lot of teams that have disappointed, and that's why I think the Championship is a fair bit weaker than in previous years, nobody has really stepped up to the plate as main challengers to us yet, still time for that to change though.

I think a lot of that is what makes this season intriguing as Fev are going to win the league without having to get out of second gear but if one of the teams around the 6 can find some form at the back end of the season then Fev look nowhere near as strong as the winners of the league in recent seasons which could make for a really good play off series. Although Fev would obviously favorites if you were to have say Fax, Sheffield, and Batley and as potential opponents I don't think Fev would be too comfortable at playing a couple of back to back.

[Monkeymagic22]

3 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

I think a lot of that is what makes this season intriguing as Fev are going to win the league without having to get out of second gear but if one of the teams around the 6 can find some form at the back end of the season then Fev look nowhere near as strong as the winners of the league in recent seasons which could make for a really good play off series. Although Fev would obviously favorites if you were to have say Fax, Sheffield, and Batley and as potential opponents I don't think Fev would be too comfortable at playing a couple of back to back.

We’ll see what happens on Saturday, but whilst we haven’t been as dominant as recent Championship winners, I can see an improvement in recent weeks, and I’d expect us to get better as weeks go on. This is a vastly better team than last seasons, and there’s a much more positive feel about the place. I’d be disappointed if we don’t win it this year.

[Fevrover]

21 minutes ago, Monkeymagic22 said:

We’ll see what happens on Saturday, but whilst we haven’t been as dominant as recent Championship winners, I can see an improvement in recent weeks, and I’d expect us to get better as weeks go on. This is a vastly better team than last seasons, and there’s a much more positive feel about the place. I’d be disappointed if we don’t win it this year.

Better coach for a start, been rocked by injuries ( what team hasn't?) But if we can keep relatively free of injuries now i think we will get better.

[J Phil Loxton]

48 minutes ago, The Blues Ox said:

I think a lot of that is what makes this season intriguing as Fev are going to win the league without having to get out of second gear but if one of the teams around the 6 can find some form at the back end of the season then Fev look nowhere near as strong as the winners of the league in recent seasons which could make for a really good play off series. Although Fev would obviously favorites if you were to have say Fax, Sheffield, and Batley and as potential opponents I don't think Fev would be too comfortable at playing a couple of back to back.

I agree wholeheartedly with this Oxy. Fev are not up there with the sort of performances shown by Leigh last season. Eight or nine clubs are of a similar ability below Fev and they have been knocking each other off which has been advantageous to Fev regarding the eight point lead at the top which will count for nothing in the play offs. As you point out Sheffield , Halifax and Batley and to some degree Bradford could cause us troubles at play off time. Exciting times ahead.

[elppaxr2i]

3 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Looking at the table I wonder how many teams would be happy and how many unhappy with their season to date? Obviously we can't be unhappy given we're unbeaten in the league. Batley are having a typical Batley season and must be pretty happy given their budget. Sheffield have done very well but the wheels fell off at the weekend. I'd think Whitehaven and Swinton will be happy too.

But fans of the other 9 must all be disappointed to some degree. Bradford have a strong squad on paper and have occasionally loooked good but have thrown up some shockers and had to sack their coach, admittedly they have been badly hampered by injury, as have York and Toulouse, both of whom have paid the price for having smallish squads, Toulouse especially having the limitations of their reserve set-up exposed.

Fax have produced a couple of excellent Cup performances but also looked mediocre plenty of times. London are improving lately but still have work to do, Barrow have fallen off a cliff compared to last year, Keighley have found life tough and look to have plenty of internal strife and are another that has sacked their coach, Widnes just have mid-table mediocrity written all over them with no sign of getting any better, and Newcastle are where they looked likely to be looking at their squad before the season started.

That's a lot of teams that have disappointed, and that's why I think the Championship is a fair bit weaker than in previous years, nobody has really stepped up to the plate as main challengers to us yet, still time for that to change though.

I disagree about London - think they will be buzzing how their season is slowly turning around 

Avoided relegation late on last season but comfortably avoiding disaster this season, just below the top 6 current but are in better form than most of that chasing lower lot

Whare signed on, Norman signing on at end of month, Lovegrove just announced to the coaching team - Think they get into top 6 - That would represent a pretty decent season from where they were

[The Phantom Horseman]

47 minutes ago, elppaxr2i said:

I disagree about London - think they will be buzzing how their season is slowly turning around 

Avoided relegation late on last season but comfortably avoiding disaster this season, just below the top 6 current but are in better form than most of that chasing lower lot

Whare signed on, Norman signing on at end of month, Lovegrove just announced to the coaching team - Think they get into top 6 - That would represent a pretty decent season from where they were

Yes, they're certainly improving and you might be right that they could easily make the play-offs especially if Norman makes a good contribution.

I'm just going on the overall feel of the club. They play in an absolute dead-end of a ground, when we played there I reckon there were about 300 London supporters there, and their social media platforms have consisted largely of disillusioned fans moaning about how the club is run...even recently during their improved run the feel has been "typical of us, why couldn't we have signed some decent players earlier?".

[POR]

At the Bulls

Bradford Bulls will be dealt a blow in the next number of weeks with experienced forward Bodene Thompson set to leave the club. Thompson, who has made over 300 career appearances, is due to return home after five years in the UK .He will leave the club later this month

At Keighley

Keighley Cougars' fullback Lewis Young is facing an unspecified period of time on the sidelines having still not had ankle surgery.  having initially been ruled out for ten weeks. Keighley claim they do not have the resources for private surgeries and have had to go through to NHS.

Club co-owner Ryan O'Neill said: “ Despite our efforts to get Lewis the surgery he needs through the NHS,  the NHS do not feel it is essential to be fixed.  We are disappointed our national health service are reluctant to operate