I thought we started well, but as we fed in more academy lads throughout the game, the impact & intensity dropped off. I dislike picking out individuals in a team game, but Oscar Thomas gifted Cougars 2 tries and generally had a shocker.

Aye Thomas was garbage. Saying that I though Halafihi was poor. Threw a terrible ball in a 4 v 2/3 situation that went to no one in the first half when Mendieka and Macani were wide open. Then cost an opportunity when on the 5th he went left where there were 3 Cougars marking 2 Bulls instead of whipping it straight to Pryce/Keyes for the kick.

I saw enough again today to still feel positive that we will eventually be a good team. It is still very early days and only the second time this thrown together team has played together, first time Pryce and Keyes partnered each other etc.



I thought we were good in the first half. Along with the trys we scored we had two good breaks ruled out for forward passes and there were two occasions on our right edge where we should have scored but picked the wrong pass. Attacking cohesion will only come with more game time. We looked a lot more creative than last week.



In the second half we removed Campbell, Keyes, Roche (who looks an excellent signing) and it showed. Thomas made two bad decisions that led directly to two trys; he needs more game time I think to sharpen up but I see him firmly as a backup player this year.



Our young lads all look excellent. The best of them today were Oakes (again), Bentley and Hodgson.



They wont however be able to do it every week for a full season and as everyone has recognised, we need a few experienced heads in the pack to take some of the pressure off them.





If Foster re-signs that's the backs sorted for me.



If Joseph signs then I would also be looking for 1 more experienced prop and two experienced second rowers and I think we'd be looking ok.

I wonder if Huddersfield would be willing to loan Mellor back to us. No idea where he is on their pecking order because I don't know enough about their squad, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask.

He'd be great cover for second row and centre.

As I say I would give Lumb the 9 shirt and Bentley the 13 shirt. That gives us four 20 year olds in the starting line up in Ryan, Oakes, Lumb and Bentley. Wilkinson will go well this season too!







Could have asked him. He was at the game today!

Presumably a Toronto fan...

Really makes me laugh. Bradford wanted to cancel today's game and play Toronto as you didn't think we were capable of giving you a game with the intensity you needed.

Craig Lingard must have had a very easy dressing room talk with the Keighley players.

I'm glad to see a team in Bradford playing rugby league but with the 12 point deducted I think championship 1 is beckoning.

Whichever league you plying your trade in next year I hope we're in it together because the crowd today was fantastic.

You thought anyone on this page would be interested why?

You haven't just won the challenge cup..

Gloating usually comes round and bites hard

Won

I don't think you'll find many of us that would disagree with that.

Really?

The whole of Bradford wanted to cancel todays game - no wonder you were laughing - everyone in Bradford wanted to cancel todays game but it went ahead anyway.

That's hysterical; stop it, stop it, my sides are splitting.



Yes I'm sure you want us to be in the same league as you - we bring quite a few fans, which is money into your teams pocket - cant blame you for wanting that.



You do know that today you only just beat a ramshackle team who have had less than two weeks training together - thats not really that high a bar to beat is it?

I'm happy to keep Mr Hicks on this forum, keep talking to him and then he will stay here.



Enjoyed today, 'what's it like to see a crowd'. Well yes pretty good actually I'll be honest. Hopefully we get some more game time together over the next few years. Championship looks pretty big ask next year, but the fight is on and if you manage it fair play.



Balls to super league, who needs it.