Head to Head

At Provident Stadium	Last 8 Meetings	Away from Home

Magic Weekend fixtures will display as either home or away

Stats over last 8 encounters

BULLS		Widnes Vikings
	TOTAL POINTS
	TOTAL TRIES
	TOTAL GOALS

In Bulls Eye this week, Head Coach Francis Cummins looks forward to the trip to the Stobart Stadium as the Bulls take on the Vikings.

 

FRANCIS CUMMINS

 

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULT AT HUDDERSFIELD.

 

“It was a great win. We have had a day off and been able to train a little more today and we have a few bumps and bruises but we are OK.

 

We were quite confident in our ability to get a win but after a disappointing result the week before it was nice to go to a side that were top of the table, albeit after only four wins and put a good performance in.”

 

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM WIDNES, BECAUSE THEY TOO HAD A GOOD WIN?

 

“They did indeed. They had what is probably the best win of the season for them and probably for a while, so they will be coming into this game full of confidence.  They showed some real attacking flair last week and they are a big threat to us, one because of the short turnaround but also the fact that they put thirty points past a team as good as Hull.

 

Looking at them – if Brown doesn’t play -Jon Clarke at Hooker gets the team around the field and he has a good kicking game from there and then there is Rhys Hanbury who is their main man.  He was last year and he has a great skill set.  He plays against the grain a bit too. He doesn’t play like a conventional half and he throws himself all around the field.  Those two are very important to them but they have a big set of forwards who work very hard and that is where the game will be won and lost; The men in the middle working hard and getting field position.

 

They have consolidated now in Super League and a lot of credit for that is down to Steve O’Connor.  He donated to the Bulls last year and, whilst I don’t know him personally, it was a magnificent gesture.  When you say ‘Rugby League Community’ you just have to look at what went on last year and Steve’s act of kindness was gratefully received and I’d like to thank him and the fans for what they did and I hope they are rewarded with a big crowd from both sets of supporters on Friday.”

 

A LOT WAS MADE OF THE iPITCH LAST YEAR? IS IT A FACTOR?

 

“Well it probably is if you lose!! We played there last year and won, so it wasn’t a factor for us!!  I’d rather have a good grass pitch any day but we only have to play on it once a year and we will just get on with it.

 

IT IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO GET BACK TO BACK WINS?

 

It’s an opportunity to back up a good performance because when we have had a good performance before this season, we have let ourselves down a bit the week after.  It is something we have spoken about and about what it means to us. To get a great result against our West Yorkshire rivals was great but we need to back it up. We will be expected to beat Widnes- after beating the Giants- but we know we have a tough period coming up and we need to win this game.

 

I am not too worried about other people’s expectations of us because we have expectations of ourselves.  I know what these young men can achieve but what we really need is a good performance.  We need to play with the same energy we did last week and if we do then I am sure we will be OK.”

 

 

SQUAD NEWS

 

Bulls Coach Francis Cummins has named the same 19 – Man Squad for Friday’s game. 

 

He will leave it as long as possible before naming his side as there are – “a few bumps and bruises in the Squad”.

 

The Squad is:

 

James Donaldson, Adam Sidlow, Adam O'Brien , Manase Manuokafoa, Jamie Langley, Matt Diskin, Brett Kearney, Nick Scruton, Heath L’Estrange , Matty Blythe, Keith Lulia, Elliot Whitehead, Elliot Kear, Jarrod Sammut, Danny Addy ,Tom Olbison, Chev Walker, Jobe Murphy, Jamie Foster

 

MILESTONES

 

CHEV WALKER needs 1 Try for a career total of 100.  He has scored 99 Tries for Leeds, Hull KR, Gt Britain, England and Bradford Bulls. 

 

JAMIE LANGLEY, who will make his 250^th career appearance in Friday’s game, needs 2 points for a total of 150 for the Bulls.  He has scored 37 tries in 241 appearances for the club.