When we've had results like the last 2 it's easy to dissect everything and say it's rubbish.



However, from the first game at Castleford our pack has barely won a single collision, with the exception of fakir and Mullally and they weren't here in pre-season. Players who routinely sent the line backwards last year like Nas, Sidlow, Addy and Scruton hit the line and stopped immediately. Sidlow looks to have lost too much weight. Suddenly Nas and Olbison don't look big enough. Even Ferguson has dented the line and he didn't have a pre-season at all. The Wakey crew say Scruton is hopeless.



Thoughts?

I've thought exactly the same this year, the forwards that went through a pre-season seemed to have lost too much body fat, and are now a little lightweight.



Scruton was probably the exception to this, who remained quite a large build, but Nas and Sidlow looked a little 'skinny' when comparing them to other teams. Both players make less of an impact now than previous seasons.



I think there is a argument to be had that some players benefit from carrying a bit of timber. I look at Cooper (former Warrinton, now St George in NRL), and he looks like he has put on about 3 stone since last year. He's having a good go in the NRL and looks nothing like what he did when playing in a Warrington jersey.

The simple fact is that the S&C coach employed at Bradford is not experienced enough but I guess that's what we get for the money we have.



Tom Clough as nice as he may be had limited experience working as a part time S&C coach with the juniors and also had his own PT business. Not the kind of background you would expect from a SL Head of S&C.



Until we get someone of the quality of Jennings or Clawson (not going to happen soon IMO), we are going to see us become even more mismatched across the field.

TBH I thought Clough had the team looking fitter than ever at the beginning of 2013. In Clawson's last couple of seasons we looked slow and ponderous.



This year we do look weaker, but I wonder how much is down to conditioning and how many players are carrying injuries or are fatigued. I suspect it's not a simple answer.

The decision to reduce body mass has backfired. The team might be leaner but in terms of preparing them for games, I do not think they are being well advised and this is down to the leadership of the Head of S&C.



The techniques Clawson was using in the last few years were outdated as S&C moves quickly so fully accept your comment. However, a good S&C coach will have a good rounded knowledge and will be able to adopt and shape existing/new techniques which have/are being used in different sports.



I would personally never employ an S&C coach who only has limited multi-sport experience, but that's just my own professional opinion.

...and there was me thinking that the game was about being skilled!

Interesting point andycapp. the total weight of the Wigan team inc subs was pretty much the same as the Bulls team, tho i had to make assumptions for a couple of players. So bulk was not a factor in the Wigan victory, skill was. Bulk is no good if you miss tackles, Wigan miss much less than anyone else, if our team had been bulkier we would have lost by more, fat weighs more than muscle and it has to be carried around the pitch, which tires the player out quicker.

What particular techniques were outdated? Clawson always seemed keen to get a physical edge for the team when I had dealings with him, I cannot believe that he lost that desire.

Far from sure the problem is conditioning. To me, it seems more of a mental problem or maybe lack of self belief and morale, if you prefer.



There is no-one more likely to miss a tackle than the guy who thinks he's going to miss it and no bloke more tired than the player who mentally admits that he is. You have to believe in your fitness and dietary regime and be convinced that you are better prepared than your opponent, if you don't, you'll lose the fitness battle however physically strong and conditioned you are.

Regarding it being a mental problem wasn't one of off season additions to back room staff a club psychiatrist? Would suggest we'd already identified it as issue last season and tried to address it. Suspect psychiatrist was a victim of cost savings in back room staff before he could do much though as haven't heard anything about him since announcement he was joining.

They should have been aiming to increase muscle mass and reduce body fat and then increase speed and skill.



It's not rocket appliances, but the poor old bulls can't afford anyone cos of the rfl.