Bulls Eye - Part 1

In this the first of two Bulls Eyes this week, coach Brian Noble looks at the biggest game in Super League as first placed Leeds Rhinos travel to second placed Bradford Bulls with top spot being the prize on offer at Friday's clash at Odsal Stadium.

BRIAN NOBLE:

IT?S A BIG GAME THIS WEEK AND LEEDS, DESPITE PLAYING DOWN THE FACT, MUST BE COMING HERE AS FAVOURITES.

They must be. They are unbeaten in the League and have only lost in the Challenge Cup Final by the smallest of margins. They have been finding ways to win and get the points on offer every week and they have shown a great deal of tenacity. I think they are very much in pole position.

I have been impressed with the way they have played this season. They have a lot of enthusiasm and some great athletic individuals. They keep hanging in there and don?t suffer reversals. They are pretty composed and they have added a lot of stability and confidence to their side.

THEY WILL BE UP AGAINST A BRADFORD SIDE WHO ARE ALSO ON TOP OF THEIR GAME.

I thought we played very well against Huddersfield. We have been playing well for a while now and we have been as tenacious as we have seen Leeds. All the ingredients are there for another epic tussle and we have seen these two teams do it so many times.

All the signs are there that it is going to be a huge crowd. All the usual back channels are open on the borders between Leeds and Bradford and I?m sure there supporters will turn up in great numbers because their side is going well and they will have revenge for that Challenge Cup Final defeat of just a month ago very much in the forefront of their minds.

TEAM NEWS:

Brian Noble ?I can?t name the squad until Thursday after training. Paul Deacon looks like he will be OK but we will have to check on Rob Parker and a couple of others who weren?t able to train on Monday and Tuesday and are hoping they can run with us on Thursday but if a couple of players have to step up to take over from them, then I am not too worried. At Bradford we go with what we?ve got and we have confidence in all our squad.?

MILESTONES:

ROBBIE Paul needs 1 try for a career century of ties in Super League

JAMES LOWES needs 6 points for a total of 400 for the Bulls. He has scored 95 tries, 6 goals and 2-drop goals for a total of 394 points.

LEON PRYCE has scored 13 tries in 12 appearances this season.

DANIEL GARTNER needs 4 points for a total of 100 for the Bulls. He has scored 23 tries.

SCOTT NAYLOR?S try at Huddersfield last week was his 100th career try.

MICHAEL WITHERS has scored 90 tries in just 106 appearances for the club.

PAUL DEACON has kicked 76 goals from 94 attempts in all games for the Bulls this season for an average of 80.00%.

LEE RADFORD has kicked 80 goals from 9 attempts this season for an average of 88.88%

BULLS EYE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT OF BRADFORD BULLS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT STUART DUFFY OR SIMON COLLINSON ON 01274 762315.