Looking forward to this game on multiple levels . Despite some enthusiastic fans on FB I see this as a 50/50 game and at the beginning of the season would have tipped bradford to win given their recruitment.  It appears that keyes and meadows have yet to click but that could happen soon. Bradford appear to play better away from odsal so I'm expecting a significant challenge.  On a tactical level we have been really good both offensively and defensively however our weakness which I think bradford will exploit is jouffrett , salty n tibbs being suspect under the high ball only brad graham has shone in this area. 


The battle of the packs is the most exciting one with at long last it being one of our strengths , with inman and obrien thriving around the ruck as a consequence of our pack giving hansen and woody plenty of freedom to set up plays , can bradfords big men survive our speed around the ruck? Can fax handle a peppering of high balls into the corners .


Let the fun begin. 

Looking forward to it, even though I have a sense of foreboding.  

I am looking forward to this one too after all you usually do not get to watch some rugby on a friday afternoon. The Bulls are a big side across the park so our pack needs to keep up the good work and i would drop Salty for this one with Charlie Graham returning on the wing. As already mentioned our back 3 struggle under the highball i think the positives of playing Woody at fullback would outweigh him playing at 6 so come on Kyle swap them that is my only concern with his decisions so far. Score wise i think Bradford will come after us hard especially with having the week off to prepare but i will still back us to sneak it bye 6.

You may be right but i would counter by saying i think we would still be 6 from 6 with them playing the other way around. Plus sides seem to go after our right side defence with Woody on our left, and there is still the issue of Jouffret being shaky under the high ball. All that said it as still been a great start and bring on friday.

As before anything could happen in this one and both sides will be well and truly up for it with a big crowd expected to make it one not to miss.


Dealing with Bradford?s size is the obvious challenge but we?ve done it before and we have the mobility to move them around, sap the juice and speed in attack to get some points on the board going for us.


Main concerns are the in house mistakes under the high ball which have already been mentioned and I expect us to be bombed to death and we can?t afford to be gifting field position against any side especially the bigger ones.


If we can get the result I might finally start believing we are getting there after so many previous disappointments.


PS: Saints reserves vs Wakefield highlights are on the Tube withe Charlie Graham scoring a decent try and having and hand (no pun intended)  in a couple of others. 


We could certainly do with his pace but not sure coming straight back in against Bradford is the right thing to do but Eastmond will be in the best position to make the calls.


Crooks should replace Restall and Brad Graham has done enough to keep the other centre spot and likewise for Tibbs on one flank, that leaves Salty who?s been blowing hot and cold in equal measures and a distinct lack of pace to boot.