Looking forward to this game on multiple levels . Despite some enthusiastic fans on FB I see this as a 50/50 game and at the beginning of the season would have tipped bradford to win given their recruitment.  It appears that keyes and meadows have yet to click but that could happen soon. Bradford appear to play better away from odsal so I'm expecting a significant challenge.  On a tactical level we have been really good both offensively and defensively however our weakness which I think bradford will exploit is jouffrett , salty n tibbs being suspect under the high ball only brad graham has shone in this area. 


The battle of the packs is the most exciting one with at long last it being one of our strengths , with inman and obrien thriving around the ruck as a consequence of our pack giving hansen and woody plenty of freedom to set up plays , can bradfords big men survive our speed around the ruck? Can fax handle a peppering of high balls into the corners .


Let the fun begin. 

First of all what a crowd, must be our biggest in a number of years for a league game. Hopefully plenty of those will come back again next week, it was great to have the ground rocking like that.

On the game I just feel we didn't post enough points in that first 30 minutes where we totally dominated, another try then and I think we could have won that game. We clearly missed Hansen more than Dixon as our pack matched the huge Bradford pack for most of the game and it really just came down to the half backs. At times we looked a little lost and were clearly missing somebody leading us around the pitch, as good as Inman is at hooker, he isn't a natural half back and unfortunatley Woody was missing for most of the game but you just kept hoping he could create a bit of magic for us late on as he can be a true game breaker. We had chances to win it late on but just forced things a little bit, the Tibbs kick, the Graham(I think it was him) offload on their line.


All that said there was nothing between the two teams maybe apart from 800k in money on wages and although its a loss, for me Bradford have the best squad in the league by some distance and we could have won that one.  I think we would have taken 6 from 7 and 2 points clear at the top of the league before the season started so there is a lot to build on. Never thought I would say this after the last few years but I actually can't wait to hear what Kyle Eastmond says about the game and how he will react to our first league loss, whatever he has done is clearly paying off and fans appreciate and can tell when a group of players are giving 100% and fighting for each other. For the nostalgic amongst us this group very much reminds me of '98 when we put together a group of cast offs or past its and we went on to produce one of our best seasons in a decade. Fingers crossed as and lets enjoy this.

I agree with most of what's been said above. We lost the game when Hansen and Dixon were pulled for whatever reason. The lads who did play were outstanding though and it was hard to take against the bulls but the big thing is how we bounce back. I thought Jouffret was MotM although I personally would have him back at half back, JWH is almost anonymous playing there. Also a big shout out to the fans, they really got behind the team and let's hope s good few return against London and we make it 7/8 to stay top of the league. Up The Fax!

Dixon and hansen were missing because both their partners are expecting and due anytime now.


Weirdly didn't feel too bad after this loss , haven't got the time to rant on but just goes to show if the rfl would stop ing about with the game that rugby league has it always has been is alive and well in places like fax and bradford, you cannot beat a local rivalry and that is rugby leagues usp.


Some monster hits and 100 % commitment from both sides , fax missed hansen in the final third and if we can stay fit I have no doubts about a playoff chance.

As all above.
Enough field position to win most games and although Tom ran his blood to water we missed the extra true half back brain that could have unlocked the Bulls defence which was outstanding in our dominant first half spell.


With just two of our props available thought the forwards went really well.


Overall, great game, great atmosphere played in a great spirit on and off the field with the outcome still up for grabs literally down to the final minute and a credit to both clubs.


On game day this is what rugby league is all about and what gets people to turn up that we haven?t seen or experienced for a while, well done everybody for 80 minutes of proper rugby league.