Weekly Bulls Eye

IN BULLS EYE THIS WEEK, COACH BRIAN NOBLE AND FORWARD JOE VAGANA LOOK AT FRIDAY'S SUPER LEAGUE VII ROUND 20 CLASH AT VALLEY PARADE WHEN THE TIGERS ARE IN TOWN LOOKING TO CONTINUE THEIR RECENT GOOD RUN OF FORM AGAINST THE BULLS.

Don't forget there will be a Media Conference at Valley Parade next Tuesday at 1.30pm when Brian Noble and Daryl Powell, together with Bulls and Rhinos players, will be looking ahead to n ext week's clash between the two clubs.

BRIAN NOBLE

CASTLEFORD ARE PLAYING WELL AT THE MOMENT.

They are playing really well. ‘Steady' has turned them round and they are going well. They have lost a couple of games they should have won but they have run into a good patch of form and are un beaten in their lat three outings. They will be disappointed that Michael Smith and Dean Sampson aren't playing because they are two very big performers for them but they have had their punishment handed out and they will have to take it. They can still but a very good side out and we will have to be on our mettle.

They have a great pair of half backs in Healey and Danny Orr. Mitch Healey organises and has a jink at the line now and then and Danny Orr is very dangerous if you let him play. He is a very, very good half back. We have talked about those two and how they play in general. Danny Orr embarrassed us with a couple of plays at Castleford sow e will be looking at him and at the team right across the board. They have some very dangerous backfield players and indeed right throughout the team. If we give them any opportunities they will take them.

Training has been good for us this week. We have James Lowes back and he always sparks things up for us. We are very focused and ready to play.

JOE VAGANA

IT'S ANOTHER DIFFICULT GAME THIS WEEK.

Yes, they don't get any easier and I am expecting Cas to be well up for this game against us. Michael Smith being out is a big plus for us because he is a quality player but I have noticed all sides take a step up when they play us and that is just one of the things we have to contend with because we are the champions. Whoever takes over from Michael and Dean Sampson with relish the opportunity to step up and have a go at us.

I think that fact we had a tough game lat week will have helped us. They are what we need because we have some big games coming up, like Leeds, Saints, Wigan and we have to go to Hull again, so if you put Castleford in that bracket, and we certainly do, we have them twice to play, then we need those big, tough, close games to get us right mentally for the task ahead.

We need to improve each week. We are slowly getting there and we know what we have to do. We must keep taking things on a weekly basis, game by game and then I am sure we will be ready for the big games in the play offs.

TEAM NEWS

The Bulls welcome back Hooker James Lowes, who missed the game at Boulevard. Brandon Costin who has a broken hand and Paul Anderson are the only absentees and the squad will be the one that played at the Boulevard plus James Lowes.

MILESTONES

Michael Withers will make his 100 th appearance in British Rugby League of which 95 have been for the Bulls and 4 were for Ireland in the World Cup.

Tevita Vaikona needs 4 points for a total of 300 for the Bulls. He has scored 74 tries in 117 appearances for the club since joining them from Hull at the start of the 1998 season.

Jamie Peacock needs 4 points for a total of 100 for the Bulls. He has scored 24 tries.

Scott Naylor and Nathan McAvoy both need 2 tries for a total of 50 for the Bulls.

Robbie Paul needs 10 points for 500 for the Bulls. He has scored 122 tries and kicked 1 goal in 218 appearances for the club.

Paul Deacon has kicked 104 goals from 127 attempts this season giving him an average success rate of 81.88% for the Bulls. He has also kicked 6 goals from 6 attempts for Lancashire giving him an overall percentage of 82.70%.

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 744250