Head to Head

At Provident Stadium	Last 8 Meetings	Away from Home
LOST 6-36, 14/04/2013	WON 2 LOST 6 DRAW 0	WIN 22-30, 29/06/2012
LOST 16-54, 19/02/2012		LOST 60-12, 19/08/2011
LOST 10-44, 20/02/2011		LOST 34-12, 03/09/2010
WIN 22-20, 05/03/2010
LOST 14-20, 19/07/2009

Magic Weekend fixtures will display as either home or away

Stats over last 8 encounters

BULLS		Wigan Warriors
122	TOTAL POINTS	290
21	TOTAL TRIES	55
19	TOTAL GOALS	35

BULLS EYE

 

In this week’s Bulls Eye, Head Coach Francis Cummins looks ahead to Sunday’s game at the Provident Stadium against table topping Wigan Warriors.

 

FRANCIS CUMMINS

 

HOW ARE THE GUYS FEELING AFTER EASTER?

 

“They are feeling good and in very good spirits.  They picked up some good results and have come through with only Tom Olbison’s shoulder giving us any concern.  It’s a testament to the pre season we had and we have given them a nutritional plan and  invested in such as their sleep pattern and it has certainly paid dividends up to now.

 

The results were tremendous for us.  It was always a fear on mine that with the numbers we have we would not be able to match the sides with bigger squads and that they would come out better because they can rotate their players.  London are a good example; they rested a lot of players for their trip to Warrington because they thought they had a better chance of beating us than the Wolves.  I didn’t want to get into any of that and we genuinely thought we could win all those games but there was always a chance fatigue would come in and injuries would take their toll but they didn’t and I think for the reasons I have explained.”

 

CAN YOU BEAT WIGAN?

 

“Yes!!  We can beat any side in the competition. On the day we have to play at our best and we can’t rely on any team to have an off day but if we can get a roll on- and that’s easier said than done against Wigan- and if we are willing to play with the ball and get those offloads than we can be very dangerous and we look very good. But we know we have to work hard firstly to create chances and then to take them.”

 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT WIGAN?

 

“I like the discipline of their players towards what their gameplan is.  They do play slightly different but generally you know what they are going to do but it’s difficult to stop.  What I also like is that Shaun has brought some very good young players into the side who obviously know the systems and have done their job.  They still able to put those plays on and work you round the field and defence is just the same. That’s a really impressive thing for me because as a club they all know what they are doing, know their jobs and rarely go away from that and, as a Coach, that must be the most pleasing thing for Shaun.

 

A lot of people wrote them off because of the players they ‘lost’ at the start of the season but I am not surprised with how they’ve gone.  Because it’s a team game you can do it other ways and the half backs they have brought in are no mugs.  Of course they would have had a stronger playing roster if they had kept all those players but it’s surprising what you can do if you play as a team and there are a few clubs who have been ‘written off’ and they are doing OK.”

 

HOW DO YOU STOP SAM TOMKINS?

“There are a lot of theories and they are all good on paper!!  But he is a tremendous player and so talented.  Just when you think you have got him he steps and puts that big 25 metre step on you with his big legs extended and off he goes!!  But it’s all about concentration and working as a team.  They are very good and if you come out of a system and try and do it on your own then they have a player ready to go into the hole.  He is a massive part of the start of their set but we can’t get bogged down with one player because with their system and the way they play they can get you somewhere else.

 

Sometimes you can over coach and over worry and there’s no doubt that Sam will cause you trouble but we have to stick with what we have been doing.  Someone is going to make a mistake and he will be there ready to take advantage of that but hopefully not too many times.  When we have made mistakes this season someone else has been able to work hard for someone else, whether it’s been with the ball or chasing back.  And that’s the key to it.  Stick to systems, put them under pressure but be ready to work for your mate.”

 

DO YOU THINK THIS GAME WILL BE A BENCHMARK FOR THE CLUB?

 

“I do and in a lot of ways.  We are sitting third on the back of Easter but we can’t be happy with that and sit back thinking we have done ok.  Of course we are happy with the work we have put in but we can’t think ‘we are doing aright’ and sit back.  We have to have a real crack at these and see where we are.

 

As a club too we need to see where we are.  I’d love to see a big crowd here. I am really proud to be part of what is happening at the club.  There is a great buzz and real achievement taking place and you want people to be part of it as early as possible.  Some of our fans from pervious years may not have been here in the early rounds but I urge them to come along on Sunday and see what will be a great game. They can really create a great atmosphere.”

 

SQUAD NEWS

 

Bulls Coach Francis Cummins has named his squad for Sunday's game

 

Michael Platt, who has not figured since injuring his Medial Ligament in the Round 2 game at Hull on February 10^th,  is now fit and replaces Adam O’Brien in the only change to 19 man squad from last week.

 

The squad is: James Donaldson, Adam Sidlow, Jamie Langley, Manase Manuokafoa, Luke Gale, Brett Kearney, Nick Scruton, Heath L’Estrange, Adrian Purtell, Keith Lulia, Elliott Whitehead, Elliot Kear, Jarrod Sammut, Danny Addy, Tom Olbison, Chev Walker, Ben Evans, Michael Platt, Matt Diskin

 

MILESTONES

 

LUKE GALE needs 7 points for 150 for the club.  He has scored 2 tries, kicked 67 goals and 1 drop goal since joining from London Broncos a the start of last season.

 

ELLIOT KEAR needs 4 points for a career total of 150.   He has scored 29 tries, kicked 15 goals for a points’ total of 146 in 74 games for the Bulls, Crusaders RL, Hunslet and Wales.

 

ELLIOTT WHITEHEAD needs 6 points for 150 for the club.  He has scored 36 tries in 101 games for the club.

 

JARROD SAMMUT needs 11 points for a total of 250 in the British game.  He has scored 47 tries, kicked 37 goals and 1 drop goal for a total of 239 points in 61 appearances for the Bulls and Crusaders RL.