[Bullseye]

Keighley (A) : Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:33 am  

Big game on Sunday to decide who takes the "Champions of Bradford" title. The Cougars will be well up for this as usual so we can disregard any recent results they may have had. Bragging rights are up for grabs.

Would be good to see Lawrence and Thompson back but there's no need to rush them. Same applies to Walker who I heard might not be far off a return. If so I'd be tempted to move Holmes to scrum half and Lilley to hooker.

Looking forward to the game.

Re: Keighley (A) : Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:14 am  

Expecting this to be a fiery affair

Keighley have some star players, but don't have it throughout the whole squad. I expect this to be a close battle, big crowd and Keighley will come out all guns blazing and very aggressive. We just have to make sure we weather that early aggression, get in the grind and think we'll have too much quality.

We have to ignore the table and their recent results, and be prepared and ready as we were when we played Toulouse. It won't be an easy afternoon for us.

Re: Keighley (A) : Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:13 pm  

I have a feeling that discipline is going to a be a huge factor in this game. I expect Keighley to start aggressively and be in our faces. Hopefully some cool heads will see us come away victorious. It would be great to really do a number on the Cougars given all the hype they made during the off seasons.

On the injury front, I seem to remember Geldhill stating on the radio that Lawrence is 4 weeks away, England is looking at 5 weeks out and Walker and Thompson are on the cusp of returning. If Walker does return I'd expect the Cougars to target him big time.

Re: Keighley (A) : Mon Mar 20, 2023 12:34 pm  

I didn’t think JW was quite at a point of returning yet and I’d be surprised if they risk him on what’s likely to be a still heavy track

[Bullseye]

Re: Keighley (A) : Mon Mar 20, 2023 2:10 pm  

I'd also be wanting to look after Thompson too. He might be cleared to play as far as the regulations allow but from a duty of care point of view it might be too soon.

Re: Keighley (A) : Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:29 am  

Tickets available in the shop at odsal when the open tomorrow. If you want to buy on line you have to get them direct from Keighley.

Re: Keighley (A) : Tue Mar 21, 2023 2:05 pm  

You just know this has an L against it followed by a perfect storm of the usual suspects crowing on about being a big club for the rest of the season...at least we appear to have run out of cloth to cut....

Re: Keighley (A) : Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:20 pm  

It'll go one of two ways. We will bottle it in a close game and Keighley will take the bragging rights or we absolutely batter them.

Re: Keighley (A) : Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:11 pm  

I’d go with a similar set up to last week but maybe a few position changes in the pack. I’m going as if Tindall will be available as F’usitua and Handley will be Leeds wingers. And under the assumption that Blackmore is out:

Holmes
Tindall
Arundel
Gill
Foggin-Johnston
Patton
Lilley
Rodgers
Roby
Baldwinson
Butler
Wallace
Foster

Flanagan
Scurr
Appo
J. Johnston

Don’t think Cougars have got a great pack and their replacements aren’t great so I’d start solid to weather the early pressure Cougars will bring (their cup final) and have the bench come on and punch holes through the middle. Hence why I’d start Roby and bring Flanagan on to run.

I’d love to see Lawford as well with Lilley at 9. But I think we go with a similar side that did well against Sheff.

Re: Keighley (A) : Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:30 pm  

Handley out for a few weeks! Dunno if that means Liam us recalled or not though!