FROM BULL TO WILDCAT
Well there's some news from me this week: I am leaving the Bulls at the end of the season and joining Wakefield Wildcats. It's obviously disappointing to be leaving the Bulls as my heart's here and I have tried to put everything into club the since I have been here. I have enjoyed my time thoroughly and the club, the staff and the fans have made both me and my family feel very welcome. Whilst it is disappointing I fully understand that sport is a business and decisions have to be made, both for myself and the club. I have made a business decision and signed on at Wakefield, which is exciting and it gives me chance to so a little bit of coaching with their Under 18's, which will be good for me. All I want to do now is get back on the pitch, finish the season well, play some good footy and show the fans that I am not just sitting on the sidelines. It's been frustrating for me this year and I know the fans have been frustrated with me being out injured but lets hope thats behind me now and I can finish my time here on a high and if we win seven from seven than we can have a good chance of making the finals and end the season like we want to.
I am available for selection again this week and I can't wait to get back. My ribs are OK now and I want to be back in the action as soon as I can. I am looking forward to the trip down there and I think we owe them one for the time they came here and got their first win in Super League. We want to get down there, get a good victory and try and out ourselves in the mix.
There was a big boost for the club last week against Wigan with the performances of Elliott Whitehead and James Donaldson. They were really excited about it and I have seen them develop as I have been mentoring them both this year and last. James lives near me and travels to training with me and he is always asking questions and is keen to learn. To play the game like he did when he finally got some game time, was great for him and the club and it gave me a bit of a buzz too. It's good too because it shows the club has got some depth and it justifies Steve Mc's plans for long term stability for the future. When they got their chance they really stood up and hopefully they will be part of a new core that will stay here a long time.
Giving them game time is all about timing really. I am sure when they got their first start they wanted to be on as long as they possibly could but it's vital to let them do just enough. It's about biding your time and taking the chance when it comes. James scored a try, put a big hit on Palea'aesina and it showed he could stand up and take it. Elliott was on in that difficult period when we were defending back to back sets and he did thirty or so tackles without any misses, so well done to the both of them.
It was another frustrating game that we let slip. I thought we were poor in the first half. We couldn't complete any sets and I think we only managed two and we got a couple of penalties so to only be down 6-0 was a great effort in defence. The second half we did everything right barring the last ten minutes and we looked the best side again but threw it away in the last ten minutes with a couple of errors. It's been the way our season has gone and but for ten minute spells in a lot of games we would probably have been in the top six.
I must mention the State of Origin game last week and the victory for the Blues!! I thought they turned the clock back and brought in some of the old Origin style. There were some big hits and we all know what the Queensland backs can do but NSW took it back into the forwards and there was a little bit of ‘bite' there and that's what you want in Origin football.
As for the Cricket!! Well I think someone had a word with the Aussies and told them that if the didn't let England win one then there would be no spekkies there for the later Tests!! I am sure it will be different next week!! One or two of us have got a box at the Headingley Test and I am confident it will be one all by the time we are watching!!
We had the second semi final of the Baking Comp this week, featuring Deacs and PPM, Stu Barrow. Deacs did a lovely white chocolate cheesecake and it certainly looked the goods but Stu came out tops!! He also did a cheesecake and a side dish, featuring some berries mixed in a champagne jelly with extra berries on the side. It really went together very well and I have been giving him stick that his presentation has been getting him over the line but he really excelled himself this week and he deserves to meet Nick Scruton in next week's final!!
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